This could be any common old farm house in the highlands of the Czech Republic. But coming inside we get the chance to meet an interesting woman living there. Her great life experiences have led her to a project she is now working on. But the whole story starts in her childhood.

[Lida Homolova, Project “20 Years of Freedom”]:
“I grew up in a communist family; my dad was a very passionate communist and as every child, I also believed in my parents and school, that everything they say and do is good for me.”

But then the year 1968 came and so did the Russian soldiers. As a teenager, that was the first time Lida could see the true nature of communism.

[Lida Homolova, Project “20 Years of Freedom“]:
“We were so afraid. In the evening there were Russian tanks passing through our town and our small family house was shaking from it. Many people were shot at this time in my town.”

In 1981 Lida was taken for interrogation with her one and a half year old son because of having illegal books and materials in their house.

[Lida Homolova, Project “20 Years of Freedom“]:
“They came and woke us up before 6 am. They didn’t explain anything, just that we have to go with them. I couldn’t take anything with us, not even food for my son. Every storey in the police building had iron bars which the police officer locked behind us. I thought we will never get out of this place again.”

During that time period she was in contact with many interesting people, who in the darkness of communism, fought for freedom.

Now living freely once again in a democratic country, she’s reconnected with those people and created the project ‘20 Years of Freedom,’ which includes talk shows, art exhibitions, and musical performances.

[Jaroslav Erik Fric, Poet]:
“I spent my whole life, during the totality, working in a pub, because I like them but also because nobody racketed me there. I didn’t have to attend the communist meetings. I just worked hard, and after work I copied and distributed some illegal materials and books.”

Students can also meet with former chief editor of a forbidden culture magazine “Okno,” Frantisek Starek. He told the students how difficult and dangerous was to produce it, as well as his experience being arrested many times.

And how do all Lida’s efforts rate among students and lecturers.

[Lenka  Navratilova, Student]:
“I think it is important for the students to hear about it. I myself didn’t grow up in communism, I don’t have the experience, so I really need to hear that information from the people who were persecuted by the regime.”

[Frantisek Starek, The Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes]:
“During the communist rule, Lida was already a “freedom island,” so I’m not surprised that now in democracy she is involved with the cultural movement in this area.”

Now the movement is set up, Lida is starting to think of another project.

This is Vladka Maskova, NTD, Czech Republic.