We Have Never Been Modern (2023)
A gripping Czech crime drama set in 1930s Czechoslovakia, where a pregnant woman's search for truth exposes the dark underside of industrial progress.
We Have Never Been Modern - Movie Information
- Original Title: Úsvit
- Release Year: 2023
- Directed by: Matěj Chlupáček
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime, Drama
- Runtime: 1h 57m
- Original Language: Czech
- Spoken Languages: Slovak, Czech
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 5, 2023 (Czech Republic - 12+)
- Production Companies: Barletta, DNA Production
- Production Countries: Czech Republic, Slovakia
We Have Never Been Modern - Plot
Helena, is about to give birth and face a rosy future in a modern city, as the pregnant wife of an important factory manager. However, all her illusions soon perish, as the dead body of a newborn intersex baby is found in the middle of their factory. Helena needs to find out what happened here for the safety of her own child, but she runs into her own prejudices.
We Have Never Been Modern - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the world of 1930s Czechoslovakia unfold:
A better world is not for everyone
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We Have Never Been Modern - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Matěj Chlupáček
Main Cast
- Eliška Křenková
- Miloslav König
- Milan Ondrík
- Luboš Veselý
- Richard Langdon
- Marián Mitaš
- Anton Šulík ml.
- Ladislav Hampl
- Martin Šalacha
- Viktor Zavadil
Writers
- Miro Šifra
We Have Never Been Modern - FAQs
What is We Have Never Been Modern about?
Set in 1930s Czechoslovakia, the film follows Helena, the pregnant wife of a factory manager, whose vision of a bright future shatters when a dead newborn intersex baby is discovered at the factory. Driven to protect her own child, she investigates — only to confront her own deep-seated prejudices along the way.
Is We Have Never Been Modern based on a true story?
The film is not directly based on a single documented true story, but it draws on the social realities of 1930s industrial Czechoslovakia. The setting references the Baťa factory empire era, grounding its fictional drama in a historically recognizable world of capitalism, class, and moral compromise.
Where can you stream We Have Never Been Modern?
You can watch We Have Never Been Modern for free on Kanopy. It's also available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Kanopy is accessible through many public libraries and universities, making it a great no-cost option.
What does the title We Have Never Been Modern mean?
The title echoes philosopher Bruno Latour's influential 1991 essay, which argues that modernity is largely a myth — that societies never truly separated nature from culture or tradition from progress. In the film, this idea plays out through Helena's story, exposing the gap between the era's gleaming industrial optimism and its brutal social realities.
Who stars in We Have Never Been Modern?
The film is led by Eliška Křenková as Helena Hauptová, alongside Miloslav König as her husband Alois, Milan Ondrík, Luboš Veselý, and Richard Langdon. The cast also includes Marián Mitaš, Anton Šulík ml., Ladislav Hampl as Jan Antonín Baťa, Martin Šalacha, and Viktor Zavadil.
Who directed We Have Never Been Modern?
We Have Never Been Modern was directed by Matěj Chlupáček, a Czech filmmaker. The screenplay was written by Miro Šifra, with cinematography by Martin Douba and music composed by Simon Goff. The film was produced by Barletta and DNA Production.
How was We Have Never Been Modern received by critics?
The film earned strong praise on the Czech festival circuit, with critics highlighting its atmospheric 1930s period detail, Eliška Křenková's compelling central performance, and its willingness to tackle themes of intersexuality and social prejudice within a crime drama framework — a bold combination rarely seen in Central European cinema.
What themes does We Have Never Been Modern explore?
The film digs into capitalism, class privilege, bodily autonomy, and the treatment of intersex individuals in a rigidly conformist society. At its core, it's a story about the illusions of progress — how a society can appear modern and civilized on the surface while harboring deep cruelty and prejudice beneath.
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