A Prague district court has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the television broadcast of Broken Voices, the Czech drama inspired by a high-profile abuse case. The decision marks a significant escalation in a legal dispute between the filmmakers and a woman who claims the film infringes on her personal rights.
The ruling, issued by the Prague 4 District Court on March 16, applies to terrestrial television broadcasting in the Czech Republic. It follows a lawsuit filed by a woman who says she identified herself in the film’s story, which draws on the case of convicted choir conductor Bohumil Kulínský.
The filmmakers, led by director Ondřej Provazník and producer Jiří Konečný, said they respect the court’s decision but stressed that the injunction does not determine liability. The film remains available on video-on-demand platforms, including Netflix.
Court cites risk of identification
According to the plaintiff’s lawyer, the court found “significant similarities” between the film’s narrative and events from the woman’s life, raising the possibility that she could be identified without her consent. The court indicated that such a portrayal could constitute a violation of her personal rights, particularly the right to privacy.
The injunction is intended as a temporary measure while the case proceeds. The court argued that allowing the film to be broadcast on television during the legal process could undermine the purpose of any future ruling, given the potentially large audience reach. A planned airing on Czech public television could have reached up to one million viewers, according to the plaintiff’s legal team.
In its response, the production team reiterated that Broken Voices is a fictional work inspired by multiple testimonies and not a direct portrayal of any individual. The film was produced by Endorfilm, with co-producers including Czech Television and other partners.
Name change deemed insufficient
The court also addressed the filmmakers’ recent decision to rename the lead character, a move intended to reduce potential identification with real individuals. However, it concluded that the change does not eliminate the risk.
“The connection between the film character and the plaintiff has already been established in the public space, and this fact cannot be reversed,” the plaintiff’s lawyer said, citing the court’s reasoning.
The dispute has drawn broader attention to the ethical and legal challenges of dramatizing real-life abuse cases. The plaintiff argues that the film’s similarities to her experience—combined with its wide distribution—have caused ongoing harm to her and her family. Her legal team has previously described the renaming of the character as inadequate, given the film’s release history and media exposure.
Despite the controversy, Broken Voices has been widely seen and critically recognized. The film drew more than 120,000 cinema viewers in the Czech Republic and has since expanded to streaming platforms.
Broken Voices was recently selected as the best Czech movie of 2025 at the Czech Film Critics’ Awards. At the Czech Lion Awards ceremony this past weekend, lead actress Kateřina Falbrová won best actress, with the film taking home three awards overall.
The case remains ongoing, and the court’s preliminary ruling does not prejudge the final outcome. However, the decision to halt television broadcasting underscores the potential legal risks facing filmmakers working with sensitive real-world subject matter—particularly when fictional narratives closely mirror identifiable individuals.
