Kawasaki's Rose (2009)
A morally charged Czech drama about a celebrated dissident whose past may not be what it seems.
Kawasaki's Rose - Movie Information
- Original Title: Kawasakiho růže
- Release Year: 2009
- Directed by: Jan Hřebejk
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 40m
- Original Language: Czech
- Spoken Languages: Czech
- Release Date (Theatrical): December 21, 2009 (Czech Republic)
- Alternative Titles: Kawasaki's Rose (US)
- Production Companies: Infinity
- Production Countries: Czech Republic
Kawasaki's Rose - Plot
Loyalty, history and regret take center stage for university professor Pavel Josek, lauded for standing up to the communist regime when it counted most. But as a TV documentary starts to focus in on the facts of his past, new truths are uncovered which may threaten his reputation.
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Kawasaki's Rose - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Jan Hřebejk
Main Cast
- Lenka Vlasáková
- Milan Mikulčík
- Martin Huba
- Daniela Kolářová
- Antonin Kratochvil
- Anna Šimonová
- Petra Hřebíčková
- Martin Schulz
- Ladislav Chudík
- Ladislav Smoček
Writers
- Petr Jarchovský
Producers
- Tomáš Hoffman
- Rudolf Biermann
Kawasaki's Rose - FAQs
What is Kawasaki's Rose about?
Kawasaki's Rose follows Pavel Josek, a university professor celebrated for resisting communist rule. When a TV documentary begins examining his past, uncomfortable truths surface that threaten to unravel his carefully maintained reputation. The film is a quietly devastating portrait of memory, guilt, and the stories we tell about ourselves.
Is Kawasaki's Rose based on a true story?
Kawasaki's Rose is not based on a single true story, but it draws on a very real historical phenomenon in post-communist Czech society — the painful reckoning with citizens who secretly collaborated with the StB, the communist secret police, while publicly presenting themselves as dissidents or victims of the regime.
Who directed Kawasaki's Rose?
Kawasaki's Rose was directed by Jan Hřebejk, one of the most respected Czech filmmakers of his generation. Hřebejk is known for his nuanced, character-driven dramas, including the Oscar-nominated Divided We Fall (2000), and his long creative partnership with screenwriter Petr Jarchovský.
Did Kawasaki's Rose win any awards?
Yes — Kawasaki's Rose earned significant recognition in Czech cinema. The film was selected as the Czech Republic's official submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Oscar ceremony. It also received multiple Czech Lion nominations, the country's most prestigious national film award.
Who are the main actors in Kawasaki's Rose?
The film features a strong ensemble cast led by Martin Huba as the morally compromised professor Pavel, alongside Lenka Vlasáková, Milan Mikulčík, Daniela Kolářová, Antonin Kratochvil, Anna Šimonová, Petra Hřebíčková, Martin Schulz, Ladislav Chudík, and Ladislav Smoček.
What does the ending of Kawasaki's Rose mean?
The ending of Kawasaki's Rose resists easy resolution, which is very much the point. Rather than delivering a clear moral verdict on Pavel, the film leaves viewers sitting with the ambiguity — asking whether public redemption is possible when private betrayal remains unacknowledged, and whether truth always serves justice.
How long is Kawasaki's Rose?
Kawasaki's Rose runs for 100 minutes, or 1 hour and 40 minutes. Despite its relatively compact runtime, the film unfolds with a slow-burn intensity, allowing its moral and emotional weight to accumulate gradually through character interaction rather than dramatic plot mechanics.
What are some movies similar to Kawasaki's Rose?
If Kawasaki's Rose resonated with you, you might enjoy Here (2024), Rogue Agent (2022), Magpie (2024), Eleanor the Great (2025), and Man with No Past (2025). These films share similar themes of identity, deception, moral reckoning, and the long reach of the past into the present.
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