Vampire Film night at Sovinec castle

Before we arrived to Sovinec village, the castle appeared over the horizont. The castle was founded in 1332 by the “Lords of Sovinec”. It was an important Husite stronghold during the Husite Wars. It was bought in 1543 by the Lords of Boskovice, who made it into a renaissance residence.

The last two Czech holders of Sovinec were Vav?ince Edera ze Štiavnice (held it 1578-1592)and his son-in-law Jan starší Kobylka z Kobylího. After the battle at Bílá Hora the castle came into the hands of The Order of the German Knights.

It was conquered by the invading Swedish general, Torstenson in 1643 and was a Swedish fortress until 1650. During World War II it housed units of the SS and burned down in 1945. It is being slowly rebuilt.

All the victims of WW2 are reminded by the memorial placed in the centre of the village.

Former defense tower was rebuilt in 1844-1845 to the church of st. Augustinus. The octagonal tower is now significant dominant of the empire church.

Next to church entrance there is appealing baroque sculpture of st. Johannes Nepomucenus from 1726.

After a short walk around deserted village we found the pub, but…

… however it looked refurbished and very live, there was a tag prohibitng the entry placed in front of the pub.

Not even that, the pub called “At the Knights” looked to be still held by order of the German Knights abolished over 70 years ago. Really symbolic start of the vampire event.

We decided not to waste any more time in the deserted village and we went directly to the castle.

During our way we met some extraordinary figures …

… like eg. this iron snail or …

… or the abandoned old christmas tree protected by two cannons.

When we came to castle court, the first people were already there waiting for the upcoming event.

The sound system also looked prepared.

In a few moments the first evening guest – Sibérija band came to make the sound tests.

At 7pm Roman Kubík, the evening guide and organizer of the event, greeted visitors and opened 3rd annual Film night at Sovinec castle.

Sibérija entered the evening with its 60 minutes jazzrock performance.

There were still some new people coming, the organisation team was very pleased by this year attendance.

As every castle, also Sovinec has its ghosts. Two of them watched the event hided in the masks at starway corner.

Tony Joni – guitar

Jarda Klí? – saxophone

Eda ?ápek – guitar

Roman Karel – percussion

After the entering concert we waited for the darkness – obviously, the vampire films cannot be screened before sunset.

Later the organisers found the sound system is not the best place for the projector – it did not fit the screen properly.

We used the time of waiting for the sunset to look around the castle …

… and meanwhile the DG 307 band prepared for their gigantic performance.

Screening part of the evening started the short movie “Draci” (Dragons), the graduate film by young director Tomáš Vrána (FAMU). The film was located in the surrounding mountains.

The second performed movie was short parody Vampire, the guardian of terror. This B&W film by Karel B?ezina uses all the atributes of silent films. The music for this film was composed by Varhan Orchestrovi? Bauer (he also composed music for the movie Goya’s Ghosts by academy award winner Miloš Forman).

The main program of the evening – Nosferatu, a symphony of horror.

The movie was featured by DG 307 and the mysterious voice of Pavel Zají?ek.

Nosferatu, a symphony of horror is classical silent film from 1929 by F.W. Murnau.

The screening was visited by 200 people.

DG 307 is packing after their performance. Tonight  they were represented by:

• kettle drums: Antonín Korb,
• cello: Tomáš Schilla,
• violin: Pavel Cigánek,
• bass: Oto Sukovský,
• voice & citar: Pavel Zají?ek

After the last title of the night Easy Rider .

Film night at Sovinec castle 2009 will be focused to historical films.

See you next year!