VR Film Screening at Prague City Library

Emperor, a 2023 film, was showcased within the Municipal Library of Prague to eleven leading professionals who work with people with aphasia. Organized in collaboration with KineDok, Městská knihovna v Praze, and Klub afázie, the goal was to brainstorm how this film could be used to educate and spread awareness of aphasia.

Aphasia is a language disorder, primarily seen within stroke victims, in which the brain has trouble finding words, understanding language, reading or writing. One-third of stroke victims develop aphasia, but it can also be caused by traumatic brain injury, infections, or neurodegenerative diseases. Aphasia affects language, not intelligence, so a person may know exactly what they want to say but will have difficulty saying it. Many describe feeling trapped within their mind.

This interactive VR experience places the viewer inside the mind of a father living with aphasia. Rather than aiming to provide a clinical representation of the condition, the film offers a creative and artistic interpretation of the feelings, challenges, and inner experiences associated with aphasia. Narrated primarily by his daughter, the story explores how their relationship evolves as they navigate the realities of living with the disorder together. The story is told through beautiful hand drawn monochromatic landscapes, as we journey through the fathers mind, trying to understand what is trapped within his mind. The film utilizes the hand tracking technology of the Meta Quest VR headset to place the viewer in the mind of the father, being able to interact with objects, attempting to write and point, as if trying to communicate the words trapped in your mind. 

Among those in attendance were multidisciplinary groups such as researchers and rehabilitation specialists involved in the diagnosis, treatment, and support of those with aphasia. Participants were mostly affiliated with General University Hospital in Prague, Charles University, and Masaryk University, as well as related clinical and educational programs in speech pathology and neurology. Those in attendance include:

Naděžda Lasotová - a Czech clinical speech-language pathologist, specializing in post-stroke therapy and rehabilitation. She has published many practical therapy workbooks.

MUDr. Hana Růžičková, Ph.D. - Head of Department of Neurology at General University Hospital in Prague (VFN). She is involved in the assessment and rehabilitation of patients with acquired communication disorders.

Jana Horynová - Clinical speech-language therapist working with VFN Prague’s logopedics and rehabiliation services to help patients experiencing neurological communication disorders.

MUDr. Libor Černý, Ph.D. - Foniatrician at the Foniatric Clinic of the First Faculty of Medicine, Charles Univeristy and VFN. He works in the field of voice, speech, and hearing disorders, including neurological communication disorders such as aphasia.

Others in attendance include Anna Henlínová, Helena Vágnerová, Michaela Petrović, Gabriela Balabánová, and Martin Král.

Following the screening of the film was a rich conversation discussing the representation of aphasia within the film, and its practical application within educating others about the disorder. In the future it is hoped to bring these events to schools and other locations to better spread this experience. 

The report was written by John Stillwaggon, who joined us as an intern in the summer of 2026 through the CEA CAPA program. We are happy to welcome American students to KineDok and give them the opportunity to experience our activities in the Czech Republic first-hand.