Czech Republic

  • Hynek Bocan – Cest a sláva AKA Honor and Glory (1968)

    1961-1970ArthouseCzech RepublicDramaHynek Bocan

    This historical film by Hynek Bočan touches upon the indecisiveness of the Czech nation, ready to bend the backbone in face of foreign rule. Situating the story at the close of the Thirty Year War enabled the depiction of the misery of the people that affects even an impoverished aristocratic milieu. Rudolf Hrušínský appears here in the role of an indecisive knight, persuaded for a long time and in vain to join the anti-Habsburg movement. The story does not only captivate through the depiction of manifold human characters, intrigues and sycophancy, but also through the circumstances ruling over the devastated farmstead, sunk in mud and crudeness. One of the best films with an updating tendency has come into being here, rightly being named along the such greats as Kladivo na čarodějnice (Witches’ Hammer).Read More »

  • Jan Hrebejk – Musíme si pomáhat AKA Divided We Fall (2000)

    Drama1991-2000Czech RepublicJan HrebejkWar

    Quote:
    In World War II Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia, a childless couple, Josef and Marie Cizek, can only watch while the Jewish family of their employers, the Wieners, are first removed from their own home to a spare room in their house by the Nazis, then removed to the far off facility of Thierenstadt. Years later, young David Wiener, the sole surviving member of that family has managed to escape and make it to the Cizeks. Although fully aware of the extreme danger of harbouring a Jew in the Third Reich, the Cizek’s can not permit themselves to leave David to certain death and agree to hide him. However, this decision leads to terrible danger of discovery by the Nazis and especially their friend and Nazi collaborator, Horst Prohazka, who is attracted to Marie. With desperate cleverness and luck, the Cizeks struggle to keep the secret, even when Horst begins to suspect. In doing so, they find themselves making unorthodox choices and learning about the true nature of the people around them.Read More »

  • Martin Fric – Zivot je pes AKA A Dog’s Life (1933)

    1931-1940ClassicsComedyCzech RepublicMartin Fric

    Young music composer Viktor Honzl in vain looks for work. He is prevented from committing suicide by a technician of the gasworks who shortly beforehand has disconnected his gas due to past due bills. In the disguise of an older, serious, musical scholar Viktor obtains work in a music publishing house. So he may court Eva, publisher Durdys’s daughter, who he likes quite a bit, he recommends to the owner that he also employ his nephew. Understandably, this is he himself, in his every-day form. For Viktor, however, this becomes an extremely complicated situation as he switches in the place of business from the clothes of the uncle and then back again from the clothes of Viktor the nephew.Read More »

  • Borivoj Zeman – Fantom Morrisvillu AKA The Phantom of Morrisville (1966)

    1961-1970Borivoj ZemanCzech RepublicMusicalMystery

    The Phantom of Morrisville is parody upon cheap crime mystery books. The story takes place on old mysterious english mansion. Its filled with typical pulp fiction characters who are grotesque just by themselves. The Movie starts in theatre where one of the musicians with easy part of Bizets Carmen opera reads crime story and identifies himself with noble Lord Hanibal Morris and his adventure. He is going to be married to beautiful Clarence but she has a terrible secret. Notorious villain Manuel Diaz is about to be executed but with help from his criminal buddys Dixi and Miki he is able to escape at the very last moment. Now he is on his way to Morrisville.Read More »

  • Jindrich Polák – Hra bez pravidel AKA A Game Without Rules (1967)

    1961-1970ActionCrimeCzech RepublicJindrich Polák

    The rules are merciless: when a police detective kills a jewelry robber in self-defense, he doesn’t get any awards, but gets fired instead. He then keeps on surviving as a taxi-driver, and yet keeps on investigating in his case, which has not been closed even after many years… The film is an unique attempt at an action film in the Czech context.Read More »

  • Adolf Born & Jaroslav Doubrava & Milos Macourek – O Matylde s náhradní hlavou AKA Matylda and her Spare Head (1985)

    1981-1990Adolf BornAnimationComedyCzech RepublicJaroslav DoubravaMilos Macourek

    Quote:
    In one town there lives a little girl named Matylda, who likes to play, but doesn’t like to study – when she has to do, she remembers little. Her mom comes up with the idea to buy her some extra heads: one for Maths, one for poetry and so forth. Matylda gets all her heads together at home and everyone is happy. Until the day when her mother accidentally switches her head for a cabbage when Matylda is to recite a poem for her grandma. The family get-together is huge embarrassment. So Matylda and her mother realize that one head is more than enough.Read More »

  • Adolf Born & Jaroslav Doubrava & Milos Macourek – O chlapeckovi, který se stal kredencí AKA The Boy who became a Cupboard (1989)

    1981-1990Adolf BornAnimationComedyCzech RepublicJaroslav DoubravaMilos Macourek

    Parents of all children around the world held a congress to discuss how to deal with their misbehaving. All parents came together, only one was missing, parents of Silvester, the best boy in the world. The congress decided to go see him so he could lead the other children by example. Silvester was truly an exceptional child, but his “being good at all times and under all circumstances” somewhat got out of hand …Read More »

  • Juraj Herz – Panna a netvor aka Beauty and the Beast (1978)

    1971-1980Czech RepublicFantasyHorrorJuraj Herz

    A more horrific and gloomy version of The Beauty and the Beast. Julie, the youngest daughter of a bankrupt merchant, sacrifices her life in order to save her father. She goes to an enchanted castle in the woods and meets Netvor, a bird-like monster. As Netvor begins to fall in love with Julie, he must suppress his beastly urge to kill her.Read More »

  • Karel Kachyna – Ucho AKA The Ear (1970)

    1961-1970Czech RepublicDramaKarel KachynaThriller

    Quote:
    Karel Kachyna’s 1970 The Ear is a harrowing tale that interweaves marital discord and surveillance paranoia. With its portrait of a government functionary who spends a sleepless night wondering if he’ll be arrested before daybreak, it’s no wonder that The Ear had to wait until 1989 for its Czech premiere; the wonder is that it was made at all. The latter, at least, can be explained by the fact that Kachyna’s long-time collaborator, scenarist Jan Procházka, was a government official of some standing – which accounts, no doubt, for The Ear’s insider perspective, playing as it does with the couple’s knowledge of which rooms in their comfortable house are likely bugged and which aren’t.Read More »

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