11. July 2025 at 16:57

Women, wine and song – but a new film about singer Karol Duchoň is no fairy tale

Critic Kristína Kúdelová reviews Peter Bebjak's film, which has just premiered in Karlovy Vary.

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Kristína Kúdelová

In the film, Karol Duchoň is played by Vladislav Plevčík.
In the film, Karol Duchoň is played by Vladislav Plevčík. (source: KVIFF)
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No one really knows how they came across him – after all, they are mostly young lads – but for several years now, Slovak ice hockey players have been listening to Karol Duchoň’s song "Mám ťa rád" (I Like You) during breaks between periods. They say it gives them energy – and they let loose to it.

Since his career ended before they were even born, they likely know little to nothing about him. That’s about to change when they and others head to the cinema to watch "Duchoň", a film by director Peter Bebjak that just had its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

It is not a light-hearted story.

He was out before he was ever in

The film, simply named after the singer, paints a stark portrait of a man who did almost nothing to give his life or his career real meaning. On the contrary – his behaviour was largely self-destructive. Karol Duchoň died in 1985 at just the age of just 35.

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