Magdalena
Czechoslovakia, 1971. A Slovakian woman cannot shake the demons of her horrific past as they come back to haunt her and threaten to destroy the life she’s tirelessly trying to build.
Interview with Writer/Director Michael Lazovsky
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
My grandmother was experimented on in Auschwitz during WW2– but what has always haunted me, are the lesser known stories of the trauma and physical effects she and many like her had to deal with after being freed. For this film, I wanted to use the horror genre to externalize her internal trauma.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I think this story is a fresh take on the horror genre and introduces the audience to a lesser known internal battle many survivors had to deal with.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
There are universal themes of overcoming trauma and how it can have such a lasting effect.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I think the script kept moving in a darker direction. We always wanted to give the audience a peak into Magdalena’s mind— and as the script evolved we went in the direction of horror to truly show her internal headspace.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive! It warms my heart that this film is resonating with so many young audiences and people of all faiths and marginalized groups.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
There is no shortage of Holocaust films out there. This is something that my team and I were hyper aware of during development. We wanted to make sure that if we were going to make a film like this, we would do it in a unique way and speak to a younger, broader audience. Judging from the feedback, I believe we accomplished that goal.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We would love to reach as many people as possible!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope this film speaks to a younger generation and shines a light on how any tragedy never ends with just physical survival. The mental battle that starts immediately afterwards can be just as horrifying and dangerous.
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you so much for considering to spotlight our film and story!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m currently working on another short film (a horror-comedy) and on writing my first feature (with Max Hersh) that lives in the same world as “Magdalena”.
Interview: November 2021
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Magdalena
Length:
25:10
Writer
Michael Lazovsky, Max Hersh (Story Editor)
MAX is a recent graduate of the American Film Institute Conservatory with an MFA in screenwriting, where he has written or co-written four short films. He worked in film development as an assistant and script-reader, and most recently as a copywriter for Hasbro Inc. In 2017 he placed as a quarterfinalist in the Nicholl Fellowship for his screenplay THE NET, and then again in 2018 for LIGHT.
Director
Michael Lazovsky
Michael is a writer, director, and Los Angeles native of Czechoslovakian and Peruvian descent. Michael completed the SMC film program and is a current directing fellow at the American Film Institute Conservatory.
Producer
Pablo Zamorano, Yuky Shen
PABLO: PABLO GRADUATED IN ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND WORKED AS A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT FOR THREE YEARS BEFORE DECIDING TO CHANGE CAREERS AND WORK IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN 2018. THIS YEAR HE PRODUCED HIS FIRST PROFESSIONAL SHORT FILM, EVA, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHILEAN FILM SCHOOL ESCUELA DE CINE DE CHILE, WHICH WAS SCREENED IN FESTIVALS IN CHILE,
ASIA AND EUROPE. AT AFI PABLO HAS PRODUCED 3 NARRATIVE SHORT FILMS AND HAS 3 OTHER PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT.
YUKY: BORN AND RAISED IN SHANGHAI, YUKY WENT TO BOSTON UNIVERSITY TO STUDY FILM AND TELEVISION. AFTER GRADUATION, SHE SERVED AS A DEVELOPMENT INTERN AND WORKED IN BOTH THE AMERICAN FILM MARKET AND SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM MARKET. AT AFI, SHE PRODUCED 2 NARRATIVE SHORT FILMS IN LOS ANGELES AND 2 IN SHANGHAI RANGING FROM WWII PERIOD DRAMA TO MAGICAL REALISM.
Key cast:
Susan Angelo (Magdalena), Michael Matthys (Ladi), Asher Combs (Josko), Michael Edelstein (Dr. Antonin), Marissa Van Den Borre (Mrs. Kveta), Bries Vannon (Nazi Doctor)
Looking for:
journalists, distributors, sales agents, film festival directors
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/magdalenathefilm/?hl=en
More info:
magdalenafilm.com
Made in association with:
AFI Conservatory