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This film from the Czech Republic made its North American premiere at the 2001 Toronto International Film Festival after setting box office records in its homeland. Based on a premise that seemingly mirrors Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor, the film uses war as a setting and not as a plot device to tell its story.

The story is that of Karel and Franta, two members of the Czech air force who defect to England and enlist to fight alongside the English air force when Czechoslovakia is invaded by the Nazi German Army in 1939. The two men develop a deep friendship while being re-trained in England and they both ache to fight the Germans over England's skies.

Karel is then shot down over a field and presumed dead. He is nursed back to health by Susan, a woman whose husband is missing in action and who Karel falls in love with. Upon his return, Karel introduces his best friend to his new girl and the resulting love triangle can only end in tragedy.

Director Jan Sverak is best known for his 1992 Feature debut Elementary School, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for best foreign film, and Kolya, his 1996 follow-up which actually won the award in that same category. Another nomination looks likely here for the talented director whose films are filled with a rich atmosphere and are filmed with a sympathetic eye.

The limited release ensures the film will be eligible for Oscar consideration and don't be surprised if it picks up some steam during its limited release. Tragic love stories, unless produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, will usually resonate very well with audiences and Dark Blue World stands a good chance of creating solid word of mouth. (Walid Habboub/BOP)

Vital statistics for Dark Blue World Main Cast Ondrej Vetchy, Krystof Hadek, Tara Fitzgerald Supporting Cast Charles Dance, Oldrich Kaiser, David Novotny Director Jan Sverak Screenwriter Zdenek Sverak Distributor Sony Pictures Classics Trailer Click Here for Trailer Official Site http://www.tmavomodrysvet.cz/ Rating R Running Time 112 minutes Screen Count 13 Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture

Comparison films for Dark Blue World
Title	Date	Opening	Adjusted Opening	Screens	PSA	Adj PSA	Total BO	Adjusted Total	Mult
Enemy at the Gates	3/16/01	13.81	14.73	1509	9152.00	9395.0	51.40	54.85	3.72
Life is Beautiful	2/19/99	2.35	2.80	685	3431.00	3917.3	57.22	68.18	14.85
Tea With Mussolini	5/14/99	1.63	1.94	270	6037.00	6892.6	14.14	16.85	8.67