Mário Bihári and Bachtale Apsa launch new video Saturday with concert in Prague

On 2 December the Dlabačov cinema in Prague's Břevnov quarter will host the only concert this winter by Romani musician Mário Bihári and his band, Bachtale Apsa. As part of a special program of guest performers (such as Nicholas Arthofer on trumpet), the band will launch a video they filmed thanks to their friends from the "Unexcused Theater" ensemble (Neomluvené divadlo).

The thespians aided the band with creating the screenplay, direction and final production of the video. With a generous helping of hyperbole, the video is about the ideas sighted people have about the lives of the visually impaired.

In the video, band leader Mário Bihári (who is actually visually impaired) plays the role of the owner of a rental car agency and of a chauffeur, while the role of pub landlady is played by actress Bára Hrzánová, the role of clergyman is played by a member of the legendary Plavci band, Jan Vančura, and 20 other friends perform as extras. The entire evening will begin at 17:00 with a screening of the 2005 documentary film "The Shutka Book of Records".

The documentary's Kusturica-style stories, set against music from Federico Fellini's "Le Notti de Cabiria", merge into an energy-packed experience reminiscent of a carousel ride. Shutka is the biggest Romani settlement in the Balkans.

A local fisherman is the main protagonist of the film, which was made in co-production with Czech Television, and he guides the crew through the alleys of Shutka where, as he says, we can find at least one local or even world champion at something - it doesn't matter what. After the documentary, the concert and the video launch will begin at 20:00.

Tickets to the entire evening, including the documentary, are on sale in advance at the cinema or online for CZK 150. The price will be CZK 200 on the day of the event.