The Oscar nominated Polish film-maker will direct the mini series about Czech student Jan Palach who buned himself to death in Wenceslas Square in 1968.

HBO Czech Republic has commissioned a mini series on the story of Czech student Jan Palach, who burned himself to death in Wenceslas Square in Prague in 1968, focusing attention on communist rule in the former Czechoslovakia.

The three-part drama will be directed by writer and director Agnieszka Holland, and written by Štěpán Hulík. It will be produced by the Nutprodukce company in Prague later this year, for broadcast in 2013.

Holland’s latest feature In Darkness has just picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film ahead of the upcoming 2012 awards.

Antony Root, executive vice President, original programming and production HBO Central Europe, described the project as “exactly the kind of story HBO is committed to producing in central Europe.”

Linda Jensen, CEO of HBO Central Europe, added,” The story has resonance across Europe as one of self sacrifice for a cause in the face of impossible odds – and we are very excited to have a director of the stature of Agnieska Holland to direct this incredible story.”