Brothers () is a 2023 historical action drama film directed by TomÃ¡à ¡ Maà ¡ÃÂn from a screenplay written by Marek Epstein. The film is based on the nonfiction book Gauntlet by Barbara Maà ¡ÃÂn. It is based on the story of Josef Maà ¡ÃÂn and Ctirad Maà ¡ÃÂn. The film was selected as the Czech entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards, although it was not nominated.
The film follows the story of Josef and Ctirad Maà ¡ÃÂn, sons of Josef Maà ¡ÃÂn, who from 1951 to 1953 put up armed resistance against the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.
The film is based on the book Gauntlet by Barbara Maà ¡ÃÂn, Josef Maà ¡ÃÂn's daughter. The film is directed by TomÃ¡à ¡ Maà ¡ÃÂn, a distant relative of the Maà ¡ÃÂn brothers. He started preparations for the film in 2010. Maà ¡ÃÂn struggled to find financing for the film but in 2019 he gained a foundation of 15 million Czech koruna from the Czech film fund. However, filming was further stalled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic. The film also gained 1.5 million CZK from crowdfunding on the site Hithit.
In May 2022 filmmakers were choosing filming locations, worked on costumes and were casting supporting roles. Oskar Hes and Jan Nedbal were cast to play the two leading roles. Shooting started in early August 2022, and concluded on 6 December 2022. The first trailer for the film was released on 16 June 2023. The final trailer was released on 12 September 2023.
The film premiered in the Czech Republic on the 26th of October 2023, the 70th anniversary of the Maà ¡ÃÂn brothers' escape to West Germany. CinemArt distributed the film in the Czech Republic.