Mea maxima culpa casino abracadabra presents a view of the institution of the judiciary – justice as a casino. A place of chance, erraticism, luck and misfortune. But instead of justice and objectivity, the legal system is often built on paradoxes and contradictions. So what are the chances of winning when the justice system is rigged, judges are tired of making decisions, and justice has gone completely blind? „Certain errors“ arise in the courts, so let’s ask the question, how much then to bet on a person’s freedom?

The project looks at the judicial process itself, its specific language, style, the role of the judge, the role of the prosecutor and the lawyers. A time that, in the case of an accusation, paralyses us not only in our personal lives. A place where the moment of pronouncing GUILTY or NOT GUILTY decides our being or not being free. A radical change in our lives, in most cases irreversible, definitive and devastating.

Nothing but a lucky fist bump.

About the video:
A 3-channel synchronized screening discusses the final judgment and the few moments before it. The video also features a fictional language that is a combination of German and Latin. The video culminates in a „celebratory dance“ between the judge, the prosecutor and the lawyers, which escalates to a wild moshpit. Not even the machinations are omitted. Our lives‘ fates thus depend on a wild roulette wheel in the hands of modern-day executioners. Turn the dial and find out how many years you’ll be sitting in the slammer. No one walks away without guilt or punishment.

Director: Adam Martinec & Lenka Tyrpeklová
Script: Adam Martinec & Lenka Tyrpeklová
Performance: Karin Bílíková, Zuzana Bydžovská, Judit Pecháček, Zdeněk Pecháček, Antonie Martinec Formanová, Petr Vančura, Daniela Voráčková
Camera: Sláva Pecháček
Camera Asistent: Kryštof Čížek
Sound Design: Oliver Torr
Sound Recording: Nicolas Atcheson
Postprodukce / Postproduction: Adam Martinec
Costumes: Lenka Tyrpeklová
Dressmaker: Kamila Martinová
Color Grading: Vojta Štetka
Mask & Maku-up: Wasabi makeup – Sabina Doležalová
Assistant Mask & Maku-up: Kateřina Kořínkov
Runner: Tomáš Cimburek, Petr Pelzmann
Lights and technical support: Peter Kotleba
Photography: Michal Ureš
Thanks to: Biofilms, Divadlo Minor: Zdeněk Pecháček