iNSTRID

   How would you define success? Can you say what all the attributes of leadership include? Despite our best efforts, we cannot precisely define these terms or what causes them. However, in today's world, we can use some shortcuts to measure and compare terms such as value, success, or leadership. Mammon rules the world and can be a direct indicator of success and leadership. If we think at this level, we have the opportunity to look at the most valuable commercial brands in the world. The ranking of the most valuable brands in the world for 2013 was compiled by Interbrands as part of its tradition. After many years, the primacy that previously belonged to the Coca-Cola brand has changed, the sweet drink has been replaced by a healthy bite-sized apple - Apple Inc.

Most valuable brands in the world 2013

How would you define success? Can you say what everything includes the ability to be a leader? Despite our sincere effort, we cannot determine these concepts exactly and either that, what all is their cause. However, in today's world we can use some abbreviations to measure and compare the concepts such as value, success or leadership. Mammon rules the world and it can be the direct coefficient of success and ability to be a leader. If we consider at this level, we have the possibility to look at the most valuable commerce brands in the world. Scale of the most valuable brands in the world for the year 2013 was made by the organization Interbrands as part of its tradition. After many years the primacy which up to now belonged to the Coca brand. Cola changed, the sweet drink was replaced by the healthy bitten apple – Apple Inc.

   Máme za sebou päť rokov Krízy. Pri tak dlhom čase je už na mieste písať to slovo s veľkým K. Čo bude ďalej? Čaká nás nejaká zmena? Kríza stále pretrváva alebo sa veci zlepšujú?

   Okrem toho, že každý z nás pociťuje krízu inak, niekoho sa dotkla viac, niekoho menej, môžeme sa pozrieť na objektívne makroekonomické čísla. Podľa odhadov na nasledujúci rok nás výrazne zlepšenie nečaká. Rast HDP je odhadovaný len mierne nad nulou, najväčší odberatelia Slovenska budu radi, ak sa vôbec dostanú do kladných čísel. Slovensko je možno s odhadmi jeho rastu niekde na vrchu v rebríčku v rámci Európskej únie, ale náš najväčší problém, nezamestnanosť, to určite nevyrieši. Rast bude príliš nízky na to, aby sa s nezamestnanosťou začalo niečo pozitívne meniť. A zmena nás tak skoro asi nečaká.

   Európska únia nás so svojimi riešeniami krízy tiež nikam neposunie, skôr naopak. Čoraz viac sa prejavuje skôr ako byrokratická mašinéria, než ako združenie štátov, ktoré mali tvoriť opozíciu k veľkým štátom a ich ekonomikám. Ekonomické rozhodnutia robí skupina úradníkov, nie trh. Dotačný systém v podobe eurofondov a priamych dotácií do poľnohospodárstva len živí korupciu a ničí zdravé podnikateľské prostredie. Zvolené riešenia z jej strany momentálne krízu skôr len tlmia a namiesto jednorazových rýchlych opatrení, ktoré by naštartovali rast ekonomík v krátkom čase, sme si zvolili pomalé trápenie a spoliehanie sa na nejaký zázrak v budúcnosti. Ale na toto už si budeme musieť asi zvyknúť, politici svoje správanie budú meniť len veľmi ťažko a vždy uprednostnia krátkodobé ciele pred tými dlhodobými.

   Všeobecne v západnom svete začínajú prevládať skôr socialistické modely riadenia ekonomiky, ústup z liberálnej ekonomiky je zjavný. Už to nie je len o Francúzsku, socializujú sa aj Spojené štáty. Firmám sa obmedzujú flexibilné možnosti na riešenie zamestnanosti a dá sa očakávať ďalšie postupné zvyšovanie daňového zaťaženia príjmov aj spotreby.

   Ako byť v tejto situácii úspešný? Zázračné slovíčka sú efektivita a flexibilita. V dnešnej dobe si každý zákazník dvakrát rozmyslí každú kúpu. Jedinou šancou predať mu akýkoľvek produkt je, aby tento spĺňal všetky očakávania, bol maximálne kvalitný a stál minimum. Spoločnosti teda momentálne nemajú žiaden priestor na neefektívne položky. Tlak na zamestnancov z titulu ich pracovného zaťaženia a bezchybovosti je momentálne enormný.

   Môžeme sa tešiť na nejaké pozitíva? Pri tak veľkom tlaku na efektivitu je nutné, aby sa začali objavovať nové nápady, investície a zlepšenia. Čaká nás v budúcom roku nejaký vynález, ktorý obráti celosvetovú ekonomiku k väčšiemu rastu? Dúfame, že áno. Minimálne bridlicový plyn nám ukazuje, že nie všetko, čo sa v minulosti javilo ako čierna diera a beh do záhuby (zmenšujúce sa zásoby ropy), tak naozaj aj skončí.

   Pozrime sa na odvetvie, ktoré je blízke jednak nám z United Group, ako aj samotnému Slovensku. Čo sa bude diať na trhu s automobilmi? Už spomínaná efektivita je uplatňovaná aj výrobcami automobilov, snažia sa maximálne obmedziť nevyužité výrobné kapacity. Zároveň nie je vôbec vylúčené, že niektorá z automobiliek sa opätovne a možno definitívne priblíži ku kolapsu. Je vôbec v tomto biznise priestor na tak veľký počet výrobcov, aký momentálne na trhu je? Akokoľvek máme radi rôznorodosť a diverzitu, očakávame, že ponuka sa bude v budúcnosti znižovať, respektíve spájanie alebo preberanie spoločností v rámci sektora bude pokračovať.

   Predaje nových áut v roku 2013 dosiahli tak nízku úroveň, že ďalší pokles v roku 2014 je už nepravdepodobný. Očakávame mierny nárast a ten vedie pri najpopulárnejších vozidlách k značnému predlžovaniu dodacích lehôt.

   V rámci United Group očakávame najväčšie zmeny v rámci požičovne. Napriek slabému rastu ekonomiky vidíme rok 2014 ako plný príležitostí. Popri predĺžených čakacích dobách na nové vozidlá, čo automaticky vedie k vyššiemu dopytu na vozidlách autopožičovne, vidíme aj postupný nárast záujmu o túto službu aj zo strany fyzických osôb na súkromnú spotrebu. Konečne sa tak v tejto oblasti začíname približovať západným krajinám.

   V budúcom roku bude naša snaha byť bližšie k zákazníkovi opäť navýšená. Plánujeme rozšíriť portfólio ponúkaných automobilov o ďalšie novinky a každý si tak nájde u nás presne to, čo potrebuje.

Vladimir Zalesky
Foto: European Union

   The Double Tree by Hilton Hotel welcomed 150 guests on September 24, 2013, including businessmen and managers of national and international companies, journalists and public figures. The international organization Superbrands awarded the “Oscars” to the best brands. In addition to announcing the best brands and presenting the prestigious award, the rich program of the grand gala evening was also enriched by the presentation of the Superbrands Yearbook 2013. The Yearbook describes those brands that excel in their innovations, research and development, quality of service and socially responsible business, thanks to which they have become an integral part of consumers' lives.

   The evening was opened by Mr. Andras Wiszkidenszky, regional director of Slovak Superbrands. He also welcomed the guests Peter Mihok, Chairman of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Among the awarded brands were AVIS, HC Slovan, ČSOB, Orange, Rádio Expres, TA3, Tatra banka and other significant brands from various industries.

   They came to accept the award for AVIS car rental as one of the award-winning brands Mikuláš Fedor (COO), Filip Orth III., Vladimír Orth (CEO), Erik Čillík (CSO), Martin Viktory (Multibrand) and Vladimír Záleský (CFO)"We are very grateful for this award, we are pleased that what we do leaves a good impression on people, which makes us enjoy our work all the more. We see this success as a commitment to the future, we achieved it thanks to the professional work of our entire team," said Sales Director Erik Čillík.

   Many years of experience and communication with clients have led us to constantly supplement our portfolio of services and to strive to improve them as much as possible and bring them closer to the client so that they become as interesting as possible for him. One of the basic characteristics of our services is their complexity. For companies that operated their own fleet and had vehicles purchased from their own property, we bring a solution for comprehensive fleet outsourcing. We will take over the existing fleet and ensure its effective replacement. This means that, based on an evaluation of the cost of operating individual vehicles, we propose to the client the replacement of his vehicle with a new one that best suits his operating conditions.

   In this way, the entire fleet will gradually be put into the form of operational leasing - long-term rental. We sell old vehicles either through our own car dealership or an electronic auction based on the clients'
agreed price. Throughout the entire period, the client can use the discounted price list of AVIS rental for short-term vehicle rentals.

   The aim of this service is to ensure that the client's costs are more efficient, personnel requirements are reduced, and administration is saved, which ultimately creates the conditions for the client to do what is important - to focus on their business.

AVIS Lease
– a complex care of your carriage stock

   Long years of experiences and communication with clients led us to continuous renewal of our service portfolio and to the effort to improve it at most and to bring it closer to the client and so to become the most interesting for him. One of the basic characteristics of our services is their complexity. For companies which were running the carriage stock on their own and they had the cars as their own property, we bring a solution of the complex carriage stock outsourcing. We will take over an existing stock to our management and we will secure its effective modification. That means, that on the basis of evaluating the running costs of single cars, we will suggest the client a modification of his car for a new one, the best fitting his running conditions.

   This way the whole carriage stock will gradually get to the form of an operative leasing – a long-term rent. We sell the old vehicles either through an own used car dealer or an electronic auction on the basis of the price which is agreed by the client. During the whole time, the client can use the advantageous price-list of car rental AVIS for the short-term car rentals.

   The aim of this service is to secure the client the effectiveness of company costs, decreasing of the personal demands and administration saving, what in the end creates the conditions for the substantial things for the client – to devote to his business.

   Multibrand is a media agency operating within the United Group. In addition to marketing activities for this group, it also develops activities and ensures marketing communication for several important and interesting clients, for whom it has recently provided valuable implementations.

   In our activities, we always try to look at the project through the client's needs, bringing trust and partnership into relationships. We believe that this approach, even if it is more energy-intensive, will bear fruit in the form of new projects, campaigns and clients.

   Within the group, one of these fruits is the Superbrands award for AVIS. Together with AVIS representatives, we also attended the gala evening on the occasion of the presentation of this prestigious award. AVIS – congratulations and we are glad to have been there!

   Multibrand also played a significant role in the grand opening of the film Rivali in Slovak cinemas.

   The film has become recognized not only among viewers, but even among experts and is constantly receiving new awards. If you haven't had the opportunity to watch the film Rivals yet, definitely do so - it is really worth seeing the story of the rivalry between Niki Lauda and James Hunt in the early days of the F1 series on the big screen. The grand premiere was possible thanks to the support of the brands TAG Heuer, Ford and AVIS, which were provided by Multibrand as general partners. The film was brought to cinemas by Magic Box, with whom we tried our hand at cooperation and we firmly hope that this cooperation brought benefits to all parties involved.

   If you watch the news channel TA3, you have the opportunity to register campaigns from our clients AVIS and Racio, created by Multibrand. Racio promotes the Longines and Breitling brands through the campaign, while AVIS promotes its services.

   We will evaluate what we have produced for clients at Multibrand over the past year, and clients will evaluate how we did it. We are confident that we will stand the test of time in this mutual relationship.

Martin Viktory

If you like revolutions and radical evolutions in the automotive industry, then the new Peugeot 308 will definitely interest you. Peugeot simply breaks everything that has characterized it until now, but has changed that “everything” for the better.

Fresh youthful image

   The design of the body, headlights and even the silhouette of the car have changed radically compared to the previous generation of the car. Despite the fact that the car is still called 308, the manufacturer could easily call it 309. In the past, it has chosen just such a logical sequence for each new generation. This is paradoxical, especially considering that this is the most significant generational change in the history of the 300 model range.

   The Peugeot 308 is elegant, balanced, and ideally represents the current design concept of the French manufacturer. A significant part of the face of the new 308 are the headlights made up of a total of 62 LEDs, 31 each, which give the car the image of a technological delicacy.

   A new level of compactness

   The new generation of Peugeot 308 vehicles weighs just over one ton. The basic petrol version weighs just 1,075 kg and the basic diesel version only 1,090 kg. The Peugeot 308 is therefore the lightest model in its class. Despite this, the luggage compartment volume has increased by 120 liters to an amazing 470 liters! Perhaps the only one that competes with the new Peugeot is the Honda Civic. The length of the vehicle has reached 4,253 mm, it is 1,804 mm wide and not even one and a half meters high. Thanks to the combination of advanced materials, lightweight engines and compact dimensions, the vehicle is able to maintain excellent driving characteristics.

   Revolution under the hood

The Peugeot 308 is entering the market with five engines and for the first time in history it will also be available with an economical 3-cylinder engine. The basic naturally aspirated 3-cylinder petrol 1.2 VTi (60 KW) will be supplemented by two turbocharged 1.6 THP (92 and 115 kW), the diesel variants will be 1.6 HDi with a power of 68 and 85 kW. In spring 2014 the offer will be expanded by the petrol 1.2 e-THP (81 and 96 kW) and the diesel units 1.6 BlueHDi (88 kW) and 2.0 BlueHDi (110 kW) with AdBlue injection. The engines will be combined with a 6-speed automatic Aisin transmission.

  i-Cockpit style interior

   The new generation of 308 vehicles is a representative of the ergonomic i-Cockpit concept. Its task is to provide the driver with all the elements necessary to control the vehicle at hand. That is why the thick steering wheel has a diameter of only 35 cm, there is a head-up display, a 9.7-inch touch screen and a very clear graphic of the dials behind the steering wheel. The large touch surface serves not only to mediate multimedia, but also to control the air conditioning and additional vehicle functions.

   Safety and assistance packages

   The Peugeot 308 is also catching up with the competition in the area of assistance systems. The Driver Assistance Pack includes collision warning, automatic braking in a collision situation and radar cruise control, a reversing camera, blind spot monitoring in the mirrors, active parking assistant as well as keyless unlocking and starting and an electric parking brake with hill-holder function (braking the vehicle when starting uphill).

   The new Peugeot 308 was a success

   The Frenchman has finally shown that he is ready to produce not only beautiful, but also functional and capable cars. The Peugeot 308 could, without exaggeration, become a serious competitor for the Volkswagen Golf or Opel Astra, and I am personally convinced that after a test drive, most potential customers will decide for it.

Summer is primarily a time of relaxation, energy, joy and lots of sports activities. However, we must not forget that the sun's rays, in addition to their beneficial effects on our body and soul, also bring many inconveniences to our skin, even diseases of varying degrees.

   From irritation, burns, allergic reactions to the sun to the most insidious disease, which is dangerous malignant melanoma, or skin cancer. Its insidiousness lies in the fact that it often does not hurt, does not make itself known at all, and yet it is among the fastest-spreading cancers of the human body.

   If you have even the slightest suspicion that one of your "birthmarks" is changing size, color, itching, swelling, redness, bleeding or becoming asymmetrical, has irregular, fuzzy, ragged edges, see a dermatologist immediately. He or she will examine and diagnose not only the suspicious mole, but also all others on your entire body using a handheld dermatoscope or digital videodermatoscope. At the dermatovenerology clinic PLK ProCare, Bratislava (Central), I regularly examine each of my patients with dermatoscopy at least once a year.

    If a patient has any suspicion that something is wrong with their mole outside of the regular preventive dermatological examination, they are examined urgently - immediately. All you need to do is call to make an appointment for the exact time you specify.

   Malignant melanoma begins very inconspicuously with the changes already mentioned. These changes may, but may not always be a manifestation of a malignant tumor. Do not be in doubt and have a suspicious mole examined immediately by a dermatologist who will recognize structural, color, vascular and other changes in the mole. If the dermatologist determines that there is a real risk of malignant melanoma, the skin formation will be removed immediately with a protective edge on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. It will then be sent for a final histological examination, in which a specialized histopathologist will definitively exclude or confirm the diagnosis of malignant melanoma as quickly as possible. As with any disease, regular and rapid prevention is most important in this case, especially since melanoma spreads very easily and quickly to the lymph nodes, which subsequently worsens its prognosis. It responds only minimally to treatment in the late stages. That's why I recommend that you have all your moles examined by a dermatologist at least once a year, not only for adults, but also for children from the age of 3.

   Finally, let me remind you of a few useful tips on how to sunbathe properly:

1. During the summer, avoid sun exposure between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., as UV radiation reaches its maximum at this time.

2. Protect yourself from the sun even when you are in the shade and even when the sky is cloudy, because clouds transmit more than 80% of UV radiation. In the shade, approximately 50% of ultraviolet radiation can reach you.

3. Children under 3 years of age should not be exposed to direct sunlight. When on vacation, choose morning and early evening hours, and don't forget to protect your children's skin from UVA and UVB rays. Always choose products specifically designed for children's skin.

4. Only tan after applying a cream with a protection factor of at least SPF 15 and higher, according to your phototype and skin type. Always choose a cream that states SPF (UVB) protection, but also UVA (PPD) protection. Buy the listed products at a pharmacy. It is not realistic to produce a quality protective product for a few cents.

5. Don't forget to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun.

6. After swimming, dry yourself and reapply sunscreen. During continuous tanning, reapply every 3 hours.

7. Mountains are just as dangerous as the sea, and the above rules must be followed even during mountain trips.

Dr. Renata Kurisova
Dermatovenerology clinic
for children and adults
Aesthetic and corrective dermatology
PLK ProCare, Jelačičova 7,
Bratislava (Central)

Every year, a book is published worldwide and locally, featuring a selection of the most valuable or popular brands. Among the various fashion brands, premium car companies, prestigious hotels and products, you can also find AVIS car rental.

We are making more effort

   The slogan "We try harder." - "We make more effort." has the reputation of one of the most famous advertising slogans in the world. It has become an expression of the corporate philosophy and the company's employees, which is the constant improvement of services and the confirmed price of the reservation. AVIS's international presence has contributed to many innovations in the world of car rental, and its Slovak branch owes nothing to this acquired prestige. Slovak AVIS has several firsts to its credit. For example, AVIS has the most branches in Slovakia among all competing car rental companies - and work is continuing to expand them. In addition, Slovak AVIS takes great care to ensure that the fleet is always up-to-date and that it contains only the latest car models. As many as 80% of the fleet are diesel vehicles, and when purchasing them annually, emphasis is placed on their safety standards, consumption and image, which is so important to AVIS's demanding clientele. No less interesting is that in addition to classic rentals, the Slovak AVIS also offers everything related to it. The client has the opportunity to deal with complete logistics services from car rental to chauffeur services, van rental and operational leasing. AVIS remains true to the idea of “We try harder.”

   7 decades of acquiring know-how

   AVIS was founded in 1946 when US Air Force pilot Warren Avis started a three-vehicle car rental business at Willow Run Airport in Detroit, USA. Over the course of half a century, it has grown into a leading car rental company operating in over 170 countries worldwide with 500,000 vehicles.

   In 1996, AVIS acquired a local dealer to create a general representation in Slovakia. Vladimír Orth, who started in 1992 with a small local rental shop offering Skoda Favorit and Felicia, participated in a tender for an international company: "I found out that if I wanted to reach higher goals, I would not be able to do without foreign know-how, because the market would increasingly demand above-standard services. After winning the tender and signing the contract, we had to transform the entire fleet in one year, equipping the company with new vehicles of nine classes from group A to group H. We sold the old cars and opened two new branches," recalls Mr. Orth, CEO of United Rental Group.

Erik Stríž and Juraj Mačik for UnitedLife

   Opening gala performance of the season – opera Svätopluk – prepared by the management of the Slovak National Theatre (SND) on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the death of composer Eugen Suchoň and the 1,150th anniversary of the arrival of Cyril and Methodius in Great Moravia. The work maps one of the most important periods of our history, which indelibly predetermined our historical development. In the image of Svätopluk, the creators of the opera offer a study of a monarch longing for the unity of his empire. This central character is not understood schematically. They give him the painful features of a man who fails in his efforts. The author honed the musical and dramatic “edge” of this work in the sharp conflict between paganism on the one hand and the new Christian message on the other. However, Suchoň’s Svätopluk is by no means just a historical canvas describing Slavic history. After all, the work ends painfully, tragically – and culminates with the prediction that it will take a whole thousand years for the desire for freedom and unity to be fulfilled.

   On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi's birth, the SND Opera, directed by Martin Schüler, will present the popular opera Rigoletto, which will feature the Slovak singing elite along with high-quality foreign guests. One of the most famous works by the great Italian master needs no special introduction. Victor Hugo's drama The King is Having Fun was an ideal subject for Verdi to portray great passions, a socially critical perspective and a touching personal line. The main character, the court jester, alias the lord's servant Rigoletto, is faced with a dilemma: to survive at all costs without existential harm in an immoral environment, to ignore the consequences of his behavior or to resist, as Count Monterone proved, because in life every action is paid for, sometimes very dearly, by the loss of the most valuable thing - in this story, the beloved daughter Gilda.

   The upcoming season at the SND Drama Theater presents a parade of great classic titles – theatrical adaptations of Gustave Flaubert's novel Madame Bovary (dramatization by Iva Klestilová, directed by Eduard Kudláč) and Jana Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (dramatized by Anna Saavedra, directed by Marián Amsler). Both titles bring to the stage the story of strong women who seek their happiness outside of social conventions.

   Madame Bovary – that's Emma, a beautiful young lady raised in a convent who marries the village doctor Karol. However, their marriage is not a happy one. Karol is not a bad man. On the contrary. He is good, kind, trusting and even shy. However, he does not understand his wife's soul and does not realize that unless he finds a way to make her happy, he exposes her to the temptation to seek happiness with someone else.

   Sympathetic, naturally humble and at the same time strong, self-confident Jane Eyre also overcomes the rigid social restrictions of her time. With the harmony of her external and internal beauty, she represents a bright counterpoint not only to the suffocating grayness of the rigid society that has been trying to deform her since childhood, but also to the dark secrets and spontaneity of Rochester - the man she loves devotedly despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The theme of self-confidently and purposefully chosen sacrifice as the only path to purification and achieving the goal is surprisingly uplifting even today, or especially today.

   The long-awaited premiere of the SND Ballet before the end of the year will be Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. The premiere of the children's ballet with a Christmas theme is a return to the traditional and most awarded version of the Russian choreographer Vajnonen. In a narratively generous production, full of artistically rich images, as well as technically demanding variations, the child audience will embark on a fairy-tale journey through the Christmas story, interpreted by soloists and members of the SND Ballet choir and students of the Eva Jaczová Dance Conservatory in Bratislava.

New season at the Slovak National Theater opens with classics

   The opening gala performance of the season – the opera Svätopluk – commemorates the 20th anniversary of the death of its composer Eugen Suchoň and the 1150th anniversary of the arrival of Cyril and Methodius in Great Moravia. This monumental historical drama is not only a celebration of the famous history of Western Slavs, but also a convincing musical drama, with a complex inner world of the leading characters. Svätopluk faces a dilemma: to fight for the new Christian future, or to give way to the Pagans; to follow the heritage of Rastislav, or to remain in power at any cost? Svätopluk also experiences the personal drama of a king who committed serious moral crimes on his way to power. His reconciliation with God and his own conscience comes as a culmination of the drama at the end, in the form of a prophetic wisdom and leniency.

   On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Guiseppe Verdi's birth, the Slovak National Theater Opera stages a new production of Rigoletto directed by Martin Schüller with a cast featuring leading Slovak singers and excellent foreign guests as well. There is no need to introduce one of the most famous works by the great Italian maestro to an opera visitor. Victor Hugo's drama Le roi s'amuse was an ideal story for Verdi, containing great passion, a critical view of society and a touching personal line. Rigoletto, the leading character, a court's jester alias minion of the noblemen, has got a dilemma: to survive with no harm in a shameful environment, to ignore the consequences of his own behavior, or to protest as Count Monterone did. One has to pay a price for each action in life, and sometimes the price is very high, and means losing what is most precious to us, in this story his beloved daughter Gilda.

   The start of the season of the drama ensemble is dedicated to great classical works. Both Flaubert's Madame Bovary and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontëdepict the story of strong women looking for their happiness, breaking social norms in their times.

   Madame Bovary – Emma, a beautiful young woman who received a good education in a convent marries Charles, a countryside medical doctor. But their marriage is not a happy one. Charles is not a bad man. On the contrary, he is good, nice, trusting and even shy. He does not understand his wife and he is not aware of the fact that without finding the way to make her happy, she will be exposed to the temptation to find happiness with somebody else. He is not able to reach her soul and so Emma lives her life as in a dream.

   The novel Jane Eyre written by the English writer Charlotte Brontë is a story of an amiable, naturally humble, but at the same time strong Jane, who overcomes the rigid limitations of Victorian conventions. In the harmony of her outer and inner beauty she presents a positive counterpart not only against the repressive greyness of the regimented society, which has been trying to deform her, but also against those dark secrets and the spontaneity of Rochester, the man she truly loves in spite of seemingly invincible obstacles. The topic of consciously and resolutely chosen sacrifice, as the only way leading to a purge and meeting one's goal is surprisingly inspiring even today, or especially today.

   The eagerly awaited new production of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker based on the traditional version by Vassily Vajnonen, choreographed and directed by Rafael Avnikjan and Jozef Dolinský, shall premiere in December. This Christmas-themed ballet for children returns in the traditional and highly acclaimed version of the Russian choreographer Vainonen. The visually striking production with beautiful sets and costumes and sophisticated technical variations takes children on a fairy-tale journey through the popular Christmas story together with the Nutcracker and soloists and ensemble of the Slovak National Theater Ballet and students of Eva Jaczová Dance Conservatory in Bratislava.

Formula 1 has always been an attractive sport for the masses. A significant role in its popularization is played by the pair Niki Lauda and James Hunt, whose rivalry has also become interesting for the media. The new film “Rush” is about them.

   The 1970s are considered the golden era of Formula 1. It was in this period that director Ron Howard set his new film Rivals. In it, viewers have the opportunity to look not only behind the scenes of the most prestigious car race in the world, but also into the battles between two brilliant drivers, Niki Lauda and James Hunt. They were rivals not only in their professional but also in their private lives.

   Niki Lauda (played by Daniel Brühl) recovers from a near-fatal accident and returns to the game to take on a British playboy in the pursuit of the world championship. Despite suffering lifelong health consequences from the accident, he did not give up his fight to be the best single-seater driver. He entered the race 48 days later to defend his title. Many consider this move to be the most courageous in the history of the sport.

   James Hunt, played by Chris Hemsworth, known for his role as Thor in the film, was a phenomenon in his time. He had a lot of crashes and collisions, but when he finally learned to keep the car on the track, he achieved great success. Once he won the Formula 1 world championship in a duel with Niki Lauda in the spectacular 1976 season, British television stations even decided that it would be worth broadcasting the races on television.

   The filmmakers did not remain true to reality. They also included sponsors who actually supported Formula 1 drivers in the 1970s, including TAG Heuer. Interestingly, TAG Heuer carries out its marketing activities in the Slovak Republic through an official distributor, which is a client of the media agency Multibrand, a member company of the United Group.