Few true stories tread the thin line between good and evil as precariously as that of Jan Mikolášek, a 20th century Czech herbal healer whose great success masked the grimmest of secrets. Discover Mikolášek’s story in Charlatan (118 minutes, Czech and German with English subtitles), which was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best International Film in 2021.
Mikolášek won fame and fortune treating celebrities of the interwar, Nazi, and Communist eras with his uncanny knack for “urinary diagnosis.” But his passion for healing welled up from the same source as a lust for cruelty, sadism, and an incapacity for love that only one person could quell: his assistant, František. As a show trial threatens to pry open these secrets and undo him, Mikolášek’s dichotomies are put to a final test, with the fate of his life’s only love in the balance. This is a personal tale as replete with twists as the 20th century itself, and a reflection on the price one pays for single-mindedly following one’s calling.
The film will be screened in person in the Museum’s Edmond J. Safra Hall. Tickets are $5 each for Museum members or $10 each for the general public. If you’re not a member, join today. If you’re already a member, log in and the member discount will be reflected in your cart.
Proof of vaccination is required for all Museum visitors 12 and older.
Hosted in partnership with Senior Programming Consultant Nancy Collet, founder of Cinema Collet.
Public programming at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy C. Hochul and the New York State Legislature; a Humanities New York CARES Grant with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the federal CARES Act; and other generous donors.
