End of Spring

A few days before the August invasion of 1968, Czechoslovak and Soviet delegations met for negotiations. The meeting took place in Čierná nad Tisou, a town in eastern Slovakia with nothing to offer but an enormous railway transshipment point. The “brotherly” negotiations were held over four days. They were conducted at the local cultural center and in the carriages of parked trains. The Czechoslovak group was divided – it was here that the first version of the invitation letter addressed to Leonid Brezhnev was drafted. Even then, František Kriegel was excluded from the negotiations, partly because of his Jewish origins. What were the expectations of each delegation? What is it like to negotiate with a stronger party that also presents itself as an older brother? Who and what can be trusted? And is it even possible to believe in miracles?

The documentary play is based on recordings of the tense negotiations, but at the same time it hints at our persistent ambivalence: do we belong to the East or the West? Are we capable of defending our own values, or do we once again slip into conformity when faced with pressure? What values are we actually talking about? And isn’t the Prague Spring just an illusion?

Brezhnev: I would like to know how we can help on our part.
Dubček: I understand your concern. However, I am currently not asking for any help.