I, Olga Hepnarova, an intimate portrait of an unlikely serial killer, based on actual events, was successful not only at festivals but in theatres as well.

The movie was released in 15 countries, with licensing for other forms of distribution in Europe, Asia, and North and South America. Nobody Likes Me cleaves to a similar, if not identical, line. “Again a female main character, but this time in an urban military environment, with a troubling romantic identity and sexual issues,” said French coproducer Guillaume de Seille of Arizona Productions at last year’s pitching forum Czech Film Springboard, where the project caught the attention of Martina Bleis from Berlinale Coproduction Market.

Nobody Likes Me tells the story of Sara, an attractive 29-year-old woman who works as a secretary at an army headquarters in Prague. Although constantly surrounded by strong young men, she has yet to find a partner. She enjoys solitude and has come to terms with her position as a detached observer of other people’s lives. Then one day she meets the gallant, graceful, soft-faced Martin, and Sara is fascinated. She wants to take their relationship to a deeper, physical level, but Martin shies away. He has a deep secret to hide.

Refusing to accept his unwillingness to open up to her, Sara compels him to expose himself, and when he finally does, it turns out he is intersex, a hermaphrodite. Sara’s love remains strong, but when she unintentionally reveals Martin’s secret to her family, she discovers that her joy at the relationship has blinded her to the reality of how society deals with “freaks.”

“It’s always a challenge to avoid clichés when creating a love story,” says Kazda. His partner, Weinreb, adds, “Just like Olga in our first film, Sara is looking for love. Her relationship with Martin is based on mutual respect. Subtle looks, rather than words, signify the profound effect their relationship has on Sara, but especially on Martin.”

The project is currently in the middle of development, with a likely budget of €1.3 million. Principal photography is tentatively set for fall 2018, and negotiations with Germany, Austria, Poland, and other countries are ongoing. Producers are Petr Kazda and Tomáš Weinreb (Black Balance, Czech Republic), and Vojtěch Frič (love.FRAME, Czech Republic); coproducers are Guillaume de Seille (Arizona Productions, France), Sylvia Panáková (Arina, Slovak), and Spoon (Czech Republic).

Tomáš Weinreb and Peter Kazda both graduated from the independent Film College in Písek, as well as from Prague’s FAMU. Their debut film I, Olga Hepnarova, opened the Panorama section at Berlinale 2016, followed by invitations to 70 festivals around the world and multiple awards.