Nominated for eight Crystal Lions (the Czech Republic’s equivalent of the Oscars), and a substantial domestic hit, war film “Tobruk” reps a solid work of craftsmanship in every department. Story of a bunch of grunts who get shipped out during WWII to the North African frontline in Tobruk, Libya, doesn’t score many points for originality, but the pic tells its tale well, without sentimentality, and features vigorous, intense action sequences. In a healthier economic climate, writer-helmer Vaclav Marhoul’s sophomore feature might have flown the Czech flag in cinemas offshore, but these days its best shot is in ancillary pickups.Read More »
Czech
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Václav Marhoul – Tobruk (2008) (HD)
2001-2010Czech RepublicDramaVáclav MarhoulWar -
Adolf Born & Jaroslav Doubrava & Milos Macourek – Mindrák AKA Inferiority Complex (1981)
1981-1990Adolf BornAnimationComedyCzech RepublicJaroslav DoubravaMilos MacourekQuote:
A humorous criminal story about a dog that knew how to read, appreciated classical music and spoke a foreign language. His primitive master hates his dog’s superiority and tries to liquidate it physically. In the end he pays for it himself.Read More » -
Adolf Born & Jaroslav Doubrava & Milos Macourek – O vodovodu ktery zpival v opere AKA About the tap who sang at the opera (1990)
1981-1990Adolf BornAnimationCzech RepublicJaroslav DoubravaMilos MacourekMusicalStory about a hard way to the stage.
Our hero gives up his job in a restaurant to find fame on fortune at the opera. will he succeed?Read More »
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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 MacourekParents 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 »
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Hynek Bocan – Pasták AKA Reform School AKA Borstal (1968)
1961-1970Czech RepublicDramaHynek BocanPoliticsPasták is a Czech drama film. It was made by director Hynek Bočan in 1968 but only released in 1990.
A young teacher is sent to a rural reform school, where he is faced with brutality of the inmates. The story, based on the novel of the same name by Karel Misafi, was banned during the final editing of the film and was only finished and released after the Velvet Revolution.Read More » -
Stanislav Látal – Dobrodruzství Robinsona Crusoe, námorníka z Yorku aka Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, a Sailor from York (1982)
1981-1990AdventureAnimationCzech RepublicStanislav LátalIMDB:
A full-length picture based on the famous novel by Daniel Defoe. The picture, unlike the other film adaptations of the story, focuses much more on Crusoe’s life before and after his stay on the island. Following the principle of setting the novel right, it describes Crusoe’s experiences with delicate irony and understanding.
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Vojtech Jasný – Az prijde kocour AKA The Cassandra Cat (1963)
1961-1970ComedyCzech RepublicFantasyVojtech JasnýQuote:
Some people with a strange cat arrive in a small village. The cat wears glasses, and when someone takes them off, she can colour people, according to their nature and mood. The grown-ups of the village consider the cat to be dangerous, but the kids just love her…Read More » -
Pavel Jurácek – Prípad pro zacínajícího kata AKA Case for a Rookie Hangman (1970)
1961-1970ArthouseCzech RepublicFantasyPavel JurácekThe Lemuel Gulliver of Dlouhá Street takes an unexpected journey to the flying island of Laputa, in the realm of Balnibarbi, and back again. The parable about a totalitarian system, where bizarre laws are in force and unwritten rules are adhered to, mixes with a fantastical spectacle in which “dreams touch the world and the world touches dreams”. In twelve chapters, the Kafkaesque motion picture, Case for the New Hangman, tells the timeless tale of a foreigner who brings hope and excitement to the stagnant waters of Balnibarbi whereupon, instead of being received as a guest, he is treated with suspicion.Read More »
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Vladimír Cech – Divá Bára AKA Wild Barbara (1949)
1941-1950ClassicsCzech RepublicDramaVladimír CechBára, the daughter of a communal herdsman, is pursued by all the young men from the village. The parents of the village boys are not pleased with this at all, because they believe the superstitious old women who claim that Bára is a daughter of a noonday-witch. The beautiful girl has one friend, Eliška, foster-daughter of the parish priest. The priest also likes Bára and always takes her side. The manorial administrator Sláma is trying to win Eliška, but Eliška loves a student from Prague. Bára decides to frighten Sláma away from his courtship. She disguises herself as a ghost, scares Sláma to death near the graveyard and makes him promise to leave Eliška in peace. But Sláma’s coachman alarms the entire village and they recognize Bára in the ghost.Read More »