Invincibles (Neporazitelní), a new sports movie directed by Dan Pánek and inspired by real events from the 2019 para-hockey world championship in Ostrava, is gearing up for a release in local cinemas later this year. Scheduled for theatrical release on Nov. 20, the film features German actor Til Schweiger (Inglourious Basterds) in a supporting role as the charismatic coach of the American national team, alongside Czech stars Ivan Trojan and Hynek Čermák.
The movie follows three men at crossroads in their lives: an advertising agency owner trying to save his family, a retiring coach whose sport faces extinction, and a promising athlete recovering from a violent attack. Producer Martin Beinhauer describes it as “a story about people who cannot be broken, who didn’t give up, who achieved the impossible – finding the will to live again.”
While set against the backdrop of competitive para-hockey, Pánek emphasizes that sport serves merely as a backdrop for deeper themes of personal redemption and human resilience. The film aims to demonstrate how individuals can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges through determination and community support.
International cast anchors story of second chances
Invincibles stars Trojan as a man attempting to reconcile with his past, while Čermák portrays an uncompromising manager supported by Vanda Hybnerová as his loyal partner. Schweiger’s casting as the American team’s coach adds international appeal to the predominantly Czech production.
The film’s narrative centers on three distinct characters: Petr Fišer, owner of a successful advertising agency who believes he has a plan to save his family; Robert “Bob” Krulich, a retiring coach whose sporting world faces extinction; and Radim Musil, a promising floorball player recovering from a stabbing incident that occurred while defending another person from attackers.
The supporting cast includes Tomáš Havlínek, Lenka Vlasáková, Natalia Germani, Veronika Čermák Macková, and Jan Dlouhý. The production team includes cinematographer Jan Baset Střítežský, editor Olina Kaufmanová, and composer Jiří Hájek. The screenplay was written by Pánek in collaboration with producer Beinhauer, based on a story by Jiří Šindler.
Sports films with deeper themes
Pánek’s previous film Nagano Kids (Děti Nagana) focused on youth hockey, establishing his reputation for sports-centered narratives that explore broader human experiences. With Invincibles, he continues this approach while addressing themes of prejudice, family relationships and personal transformation.
“We believe the film’s theme can unite society,” Pánek explained. “Invincibles is not a film about victory on the scoreboard. It’s about inner victory – about dreams that seem lost, about second chances we must earn, and about people who support us in difficult moments.”
The director, who studied public law in Prague before transitioning to filmmaking, made his feature debut in 2016 with the thriller Taxi 121, which dealt with serial murders of Prague taxi drivers. He expanded into television in 2019 with the comedy web series Behind the Curtain and has directed numerous music videos throughout his career.
The film’s focus on para-hockey reflects growing international attention to Paralympic sports and disability athletics. The 2019 World Para Ice Hockey Championships in Ostrava provided the real-world foundation for the fictional narrative, though Pánek emphasizes that the sporting events serve primarily as a catalyst for personal stories rather than the central focus.
“It’s not a film about sport. It’s a film about people. About friendship, about love, about family and about the fact that even when we fall, we can get up again,” Pánek stated.
Local distribution of Invincibles will be handled by Falcon, with potential for international sales given Schweiger’s involvement and the universal themes explored in the narrative.
