Slovak filmmaker Miro Remo’s Better Go Mad in the Wild (Raději zešílet v divočině), winner of this year’s Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, is set to reach Czech cinemas on Sept. 18 through distributor Aerofilms. Before its national release, the film will be introduced with a series of preview screenings across South Bohemia and in Prague.
The documentary revisits the themes of Aleš Palán and Jan Šibík’s best-selling book Better Go Mad in the Wild, which chronicled the lives of hermits living in the Šumava region. Remo’s work focuses on identical twins František and Ondřej Klišík, who chose to live far from mainstream society in rural South Bohemia. Shot over six years, the film combines observational realism with stylized sequences, exploring both the physical isolation and the philosophical outlook of its subjects.
From festival triumph to cinema release
Better Go Mad in the Wild premiered in Karlovy Vary earlier this summer, where it stood out in the main competition and secured the festival’s highest award, the Crystal Globe. The jury praised its combination of raw authenticity and striking cinematic form.
Remo, known for previous documentaries such as Richard Müller: This Is Not Me (Richard Müller: Nepoznaný) and At Full Throttle (Láska pod kapotou), has frequently turned his lens toward figures who live outside conventional frameworks. With the Klišík twins, he found subjects whose rejection of societal norms is both radical and deeply personal.
“They are very raw in a way,” Remo said in connection with the film. “They did not trade truth for comfort. Even though they live on the margins, they have sensitivity, playfulness, and the ability to stand their ground. In today’s world, true personalities are often outsiders.”
The film’s visual style reinforces its themes. While much of the footage relies on observational technique, Remo also employs moments of stylization, including a surreal touch in which the twins’ cow speaks with the voice of Czech actor Jiří Lábus. The balance between unfiltered daily life and these creative flourishes highlights both the ordinary and the extraordinary dimensions of the brothers’ existence.
Regional previews and Prague premiere
Ahead of its wide release, Better Go Mad in the Wild will embark on a tour of preview screenings, beginning in the twins’ hometown of Volary on Aug. 30. The director and author Palán are expected to attend. Additional stops include Vimperk, Prachatice, Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, Sušice, and Klatovy.
The tour will conclude with a Prague screening at Kino Aero on Sept. 10, a symbolic moment before the nationwide release. These events are framed as a tribute to the brothers whose lives inspired both the book and the film.
The feature was produced by Slovak company Arsy-Versy and Czech outfit nutprodukce, with Czech Television as a co-producer. Funding came from the Czech Audiovisual Fund, the Slovak Audiovisual Fund, and Creative Europe – MEDIA.
With its festival accolades, regional significance, and unusual narrative approach, Better Go Mad in the Wild is positioned as one of the most anticipated Central European documentaries of the year. As it transitions from the festival circuit to national cinemas, the film continues the dialogue between art, society, and the desire for freedom at the edges of mainstream life.
