Last Routine

This film portrays 24 critical hours in the life of Ondrej Nepela—an intense personal drama of a young man who, after years of representing his country, longs for just one thing: to escape the cage of socialist Czechoslovakia and perform in the popular ice show Holiday on Ice. He wants to be free and to love without fear. Yet at this vulnerable moment, the regime intensifies its pressure on Ondrej, forcing him to confront an uncompromising ultimatum. During his final preparations for the World Championships, Ondrej struggles not only against the regime but, above all, against himself. Shortly before his decisive performance, he is paralysed by fear, and Hilda must find a way to help him regain his confidence. The film captures these defining moments and offers a glimpse into why, in the grainy footage from Bratislava, the world champion does not celebrate, even though it is the greatest triumph of his life.