CZ
Capturing the dark humor of Czech author Michal Viewegh's chronicle of life after the Velvet Revolution, this black comedy chronicles three decades in the life of a small Czech family. While the original novel centered on the protagonist Kvido from his conception through his adulthood, first time director Petr Nikolaev and screenwriter Jan Novak changed the focus to his parents Milena, an extremely self-effacing lawyer who acts on stage in her spare time, and Ales, a rather aimless government worker who tends to drift wherever the wind takes him. The lives of Ales and Milena change dramatically following the Russian invasion of Prague in 1968.
Apr 1997
Oligophrenic Fany (Bohdalová) lives with her aunt who suddenly manages to travel abroad. Fany has to move to her sister (Jirásková). Two very different women, one mentally disabled and the second one intelligent doctor has to live together and learn from each other about tolerance, loneliness, life and why call dogs "Mister".
Nov 1995
This film is about life of a family, which lived in Prague since since 1968 to 1980. Father of the family comes from Ukraine and so every year someone from Ukraine to visit this family and to buy something more better than is in Ukraine. As the times go by, the friens of family live in Austria. And now for change the family visit "a better life" in west Europe and they found out how it is to be something second-rate.
Nov 1994
Set in 1776, this historical film by Petr Hvizd concerns an army deserter who takes refuge within the walls of the Convent of St. Claire. The investigation to find him soon becomes a question of morality concerning the value of human life in the context of the diversity and hierarchy of social laws.
An artistic animated short showing the life in secondary school.
Jan 1987
It all begins at Prague Airport, where American agents have brought Major Maisner, who has been expelled from the United States, in handcuffs. He returns to his place of work, the Central Police Academy, despite having been demoted to lieutenant for his "performance" and his position as academy commander having been taken over by the newly promoted Captain Hrubec. Maisner meets his former students, who now teach at the school. They all welcome him enthusiastically and receive gifts from him. While psychologist Kudláková, who is attracted to commanding types, has lost interest in the demoted Maisner and is now passionately in love with Hrubec, Boženka Vinklářová, who has broken up with the gypsy Štefan and now teaches dactyloscopy at the school, focuses her attention on him. Maisner recounts how he jumped off a skyscraper in America to defend himself against Simona Ptáčková's advances.
Jan 1997
Approximately 250 photographs by Roman Sejkot of a mentally handicapped swimmer which are wonderfully animated by the film's director. A selection of these photographs came third in the Sports Stories category in the 1993 World Press Photo competition.
May 2024
A dramatic action film about stuntmen who perform the most dangerous stunts in the film world. One day, however, one of them is struck by a family tragedy in which his son dies. The man cannot overcome this tragedy and ends up in a psychiatric ward. Will he be able to return with the help of his friends?
May 1995
After two troubled but powerful men rape a young hitchhiker who happens to be a vet, she drugs them and removes their testicles.
Apr 1998
Vít Dolejší, popularly known as Vitoušek, monitors the groundwater in the underground of the National Theatre, and when he gets fired because the theatre will go to the nuns, he has no choice but to inherit the Richmond Hotel in Karlovy Vary from his American grandfather and the five million dollars tied up in its rapid reconstruction. At that moment, however, he finds himself caught in the web of intrigues of a wealthy ex-broker called Boss, the hotel manager and former Aesthete Křiváček, and the cunning lawyer Wagner. However, not only big money is at stake, but also the charm of the notorious gambler Alice, with whom Vitoušek falls in love and then shows everyone that he is not such a fool as everyone thought.
Jun 1994
When Winnie, who never reads, lifts off with a foxy stranger, sensible Harriet must use every ounce of energy and brain power to rescue her.
Jan 1991
A labyrinthine portrait of Czech culture on the brink of a new millennium. Egon Bondy prophesies a capitalist inferno, Jim Čert admits to collaborating with the secret police, Jaroslav Foglar can’t find a bottle-opener, and Ivan Diviš makes observations about his own funeral. This is the Czech Republic in the late 90s, as detailed in Karel Vachek’s documentary.
Dec 2000
Anecdotes about the relationship between puppets and mankind.
Jan 1981
Documentary about the Cold War.
Feb 1988
Major Maisner, head of Interpol for Central Europe and neighboring Asian countries, is fulfilling his mission in Bangkok, Thailand. When he returns from his mission, he has no idea that his doppelganger, sent here by the Thai mafia, is acting on his behalf in the Czech Republic.
Jan 1999
School begins, and one day at a time, Emily and her new classmates learn new ideas, expand their world, and grow closer together.
Jan 2006
A four-story omnibus depicting different Czech slices-of-life from the titular city.
Apr 1999
Quite a few years have passed since November 1989. Czechoslovakia has been divided up and, in the Czech Republic, Václav Klaus’s right-wing government is in power. Karel Vachek follows on from his film New Hyperion, thus continuing his series of comprehensive film documentaries in which he maps out Czech society and its real and imagined elites in his own unique way.
Aug 1996
A lyrical story from the beginning of 20th century, with the atmosphere of a small-town environment, distinctive characters, and a subtle analysis of human nature. It takes place in a small town in southern Bohemia, where a perceptive adolescent boy experiences his first emotional enchantment and a deep crisis. Helimadoe are also the initial letters of the names of the five distinctive daughters of Hanzelín, a rough country doctor who not only treats a seriously ill boy, but also helps him overcome his painful emotional turmoil with his wisdom.
Apr 1993
This international co-production, shot at Barrandov Studios with international cast including Czech actors is an attempt to create a sci-fi fantasy in the tradition of Star Wars and Star Trek. Sometime in the distant future, several earthlings turn up on a strange planet ruled over by a despotic ruler with magic powers. A young earth-man initiates a successful uprising.
Jan 1994