Slovak drama Father portrays a couple's ordeal after a hot-car death

Slovak drama Father, released Wednesday, portrays a couple shattered after accidentally leaving their toddler to die in a hot car. The film is now showing in cinemas. Inspired by a real case, it stars Milan Ondrík and Dominika Morávková. Premiered at Venice’s Orizzonti last year, it follows the father’s fatal distraction on a busy morning and the couple’s ensuing breakdown. Director Tereza Nvotová examines “forgotten baby syndrome,” citing routine memory and “tunnel effect” to explain such tragedies rather than condemn the father. This is her third feature.