The White Devil

An intimate portrait of Hollywood's greatest cinematographic visionary, seen through the eyes of an emerging Czech filmmaker.

This film came into being in the least likely of ways. Jana Hojdová, a former cinematography student at Prague's FAMU, decided to approach Robert Richardson with the intention of making him the subject of her thesis. His body of work, spanning decades of film history, had inspired her like nothing else in the world. She sent him an email and, to her surprise, he replied. What began as a student exercise gradually transformed into an extraordinary creative and personal friendship. Richardson opened up to Jana in a way he had never done with anyone else. He gave her access to hundreds of hours of personal video archives and welcomed her into both his private and professional life. Jana thus began crafting a documentary portrait from the inside. She traveled the world with Richardson, attended the Academy Awards, and was present on the sets of major productions alongside world-renowned directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Oliver Stone, and Martin Scorsese. The result is not merely a film about one of the greatest cinematographers working today, but also a powerful and inspiring story about courage, passion, and belief. A reminder that it does not matter where you come from, but how strong your desire is to follow your own vision, and that even the highest peaks are within reach.

Robert Richardson is among the most influential cinematographers in contemporary cinema. Over more than four decades, he has fundamentally shaped the visual language of modern film through long-standing collaborations with directors such as Oliver Stone, Martin Scorsese, and Quentin Tarantino. He is a three-time Academy Award winner (JFK, The Aviator, Hugo) and has received multiple nominations for his bold and expressive camerawork. Richardson's work transcends genres and generations, ranging from political thrillers and historical epics to radical, genre-defining films, and is celebrated for its daring approach to light, movement, and emotional intensity. His visual legacy has profoundly influenced audiences and generations of filmmakers around the world.