Svatava – Trojak Jolanta (2022)

Saints and Sorcerers in Pre-War Prague. The twentieth century begins. Europeans, weary of the pace of the industrial revolution, realize that even technological progress is not self-saving. The reaction to the loss of old certainties is a decadent escape into esoteric teachings, secret societies, and narcotics. A trio of Prague occultists discovers yoga and hopes that this exotic metaphysical exercise will provide them with answers on how to push the boundaries of perception, restore the lost bond with the supernatural, or how to artistically depict the absolute. In contrast, the spirit medium Svatava from Nová Paka did not seek to awaken supernatural powers, yet she becomes an extraordinarily potent medium. However, her rapid rise to the top of show business costs her the most important thing — herself. A way out comes only with a meeting with a runaway Indian messiah, who opens a new spiritual world before her. Jolanta Trojak's text draws from the genre of the occult novel, but it does not remain there. The flowery style alternates with a timeless rhythmic text exploring questions of basic human fate and the fulfillment of one's own potential.