Discoveries from Czech Republic World Cinema

A horror film cut almost in the British style, with the very English František Němec, the grumpy coachman Josef Somr, an abandoned country estate, and its mysterious inhabitant. Based on a short story by J. Hanák.

A comedy about well-hidden children, a diabolical plan, and how it all came to light in the end. There are situations in life when everything gets tangled up somehow. People, especially when they are still young and inexperienced, sometimes break up and get together too quickly, and the consequences may only become apparent many years later. In this particular case, they came to light when Gábina and Petr decided to get married. Everything would have been fine if Petr's father and Gábina's mother hadn't realized during their introduction that they had actually known each other for a long time and, worse still, that their children were siblings who had been well hidden until then. The mistake had been made, and now what? How to separate the young couple without arousing their suspicions, and especially those of the rest of the family? Yes, a diabolical plan must be devised...

If I die first, my husband will follow me to the tomb – this is the condition set by Princess Magdalena, with whom Prince Roland falls fatefully in love. This is what happens, but Roland uses a snake leaf to bring the princess back to life. Her life, yes, but not her soul. Magdalena is different; she seeks the prince's life, and faithful Jan, who thwarts her plot three times, pays for it by turning to stone. Only Roland's great pain and love move the White Bride enough to allow the princess's soul to return...

Poetic, affectionate, lyrical, and elegy for actor Rudolf Hrusinsky composed of a wordless montage of slowed film footage spanning Hrusinsky’s entire career that embodies the human experience: toil, rest, education, romantic love, rejection, desire, aging, frailty. A recurring interstitial black screen with the words “ten minutes” becomes a constant reinforcement of transience, a career and life distilled to the precious few minutes of the film, a reflection of its brevity.

Accumulating money through usury and self-denial is Harpagon's passion and ostentatiously displayed purpose in life. He loves money more than his good name, honor, and dignity. His wealth is more important to him than his own children. He plans to marry his daughter Eliza off without a dowry to an aging rich man, his son Cleante to a wealthy widow – and he himself has chosen the beautiful young Mariana as his bride, regardless of the fact that his son is in love with her. And this is only the beginning of the hypocrisy, deceit, and manipulation that develops in his family and among his servants under the influence of Harpagon's miserliness...

The third and final installment of the fairy-tale fencing comedies Crossed Swords and Ringing Swords. Once again, they are full of intrigue and misfortune, but also the search for happiness and love. The villain, Count Meron, attempts to poison the young king, seize the throne, and pin the blame on the innocent Peter. New characters also play a significant role in the story - the camp follower Vilma and her young daughter Jana, who is disguised as a boy out of fear of bandits. Love naturally reaches its goal, evil in the form of Count Meron is punished, and the inevitable fairy-tale happy ending follows...

Unexpectedly widowed costume designer Eva discovers a child's drawing that sends her and her daughter on a road trip to uncover a family secret.

Riky, a club bouncer who recently broke up with his girlfriend, has another shift ahead of him “working the door”. While it’s just a Tuesday, this is no ordinary night – it’s Valentine’s Day, a night when nobody wants to be alone. Riky is happy to be spending the evening in the company of his co-workers Modřín and Mates, and they’ve got their hands full. Underaged kids want to get in, drunks don’t want to get out, and everyone keeps losing their cloakroom tickets. In the middle of all of this, Riky’s ex shows up, and she isn’t alone.

A romantic fairy tale about a disobedient princess who stopped having bad luck when she realized that she alone was the architect of her own destiny.

Věra and Vladimír were a childless married couple. They were united by love, work, and the desire to have a child. When Vladimír suddenly dies at the age of 45, Věra finds herself at rock bottom. Neither her mother's nor her sister's consolation helps. Neither does feeding the cats in the yard behind the house. But the main blow is yet to come for Věra: it comes in the form of payment slips she finds among her husband's belongings, confirming regular payments to an unknown woman! Věra turns to a family friend, Pepa, her husband's colleague from the research institute. While drunk, he reveals that her husband has been having an affair with another woman and has a child with her. Věra is shocked and offended. She had wanted a child so badly, and Vladimír ended up conceiving one with a complete stranger. Věra sets out to find this unknown woman. She wants to know what makes her so amazing that she captivated her husband...

Láďa is always joking. Petr has his own incomprehensible dictionary. Jana seeks a partner via a dating service. They are linked through their joy in music and their involvement in the group founded more than 20 years ago by bandmaster Šimon Ornest. Strictly, almost despotically, without pity but with great energy and understanding, he not only leads his musicians to a place on the music scene but is also their support and friend.

The film tells the story through the eyes of a young boy who has a unique experience of Jesus' presence during his first Holy Communion. The power of prayer, the issue of alcoholism in a Christian family, the mother's love and determination to save the family, and the father's conversion provide the basis for a powerful story. Most of the footage was shot in a small forgotten village in the middle of the beautiful Slovak mountains in the village of Velké Borové.

The phenomenal German trumpeter Reinhold Friedrich and the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava conducted by H. M. Förster. Renowned German trumpeter Reinhold Friedrich, honorary professor at London's Royal Academy of Music, who has collaborated with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre Philharmonique de la Radio France, among others, has now joined forces with the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava, conducted by its chief conductor H. M. Förster, for his solo project. Their performance in Ostrava included Ernest Bloch's Proclamation for Trumpet and Orchestra and Tomasi's Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra. Performers: Reinhold Friedrich, Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava.

Two pranksters set out on a wild adventure to shoot a horror documentary, resurrect their dwindling fame and save their YouTube channel.

This sports documentary goes behind the scenes in the world of mixed martial arts while chronicling the life story of MMA champion Attila Végh.

What has shaped the appearance of Brno and the lives of its inhabitants over the last two centuries? What do architectural monuments and cultural and social traditions refer to?

Family comedy about upcoming proposal.

A group of friends try to enjoy a spooky experience at one of the most famous escape rooms in the world. Little do they know the game will turn into a true fight for survival.

This film tells a story about two young talented artists coming from different ethnic and family backgrounds whose paths cross because of their unusual talent and passion for flamenco music. Amós is twelve and grows up in Salamanca. A rising star recognized by Paco de Lucía, Amós has been playing guitar and composing since he was three. Abraham is a twelve year old flamenco singer from the Gypsy community in Madrid's periphery. He grows up in an extended family where flamenco singing is a part of everyday life and passed on from generation to generation. This is a moving story about child fame, the road taken to get there and the vibrant subculture of flamenco.

Documentary about the Czech band Chinaski.

After a magic bell from Tibet is stolen, a little girl and an elephant undertake a dangerous journey to bring the bell home.

Lev Sergeyevich Theremin was a pioneering Russian inventor whose eponymous instrument, the thereminvox, revolutionized electronic music; between 1928 and 1938 he enjoyed triumphs in America - sold-out concerts, mass production of his instrument, and high society acclaim - before the Wall Street crash, personal upheavals, and waning fame led to his enigmatic 1938 return to the USSR. Against all expectations, after surviving Stalin’s notorious Magadan labor camp, he resumed work for Soviet secret services and lived on until 1993, passing away at the age of 97.

"Power is sweetest when it is completely disproportionate – when a fool rules over the wise..." Kundera's play reveals in a farcical, even sarcastic way what drives people. For some, the most important thing is to submit and have peace of mind, while others need power over others to live. Milan Kundera says of his comedy Ptákovina that "it is a comedy so frivolous that it is more than a comedy: it is nonsense." Its intricate plot is set in motion by the Director, who draws a rhombus on the blackboard in the classroom. And it is discovered. An investigation ensues, and the all-powerful man of the city, the Chairman, also enters the game. This myth-shrouded comedy was only performed briefly in our country in 1969, and since then no one has officially seen it here. Until September 2008, when director Ladislav Smoček staged it at the Činoherní klub in Prague.

Based on actual events. Late 1941, Group Silver A are dropped into occupied Czechoslovakia on an SOE mission to set up a Radio communications centre for the resistance, and contact a German Army officer whom is forwarding information to the British.

Studio Ypsilon's musical comedy connects the circumstances surrounding the creation of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's last opera with the story of The Magic Flute itself. The actors' performances intertwine with the arias of the world-famous composer, creating a collage interwoven with humor and perspective. The story of Tamino and Pamina's love is not omitted, with the opera's authors placing many obstacles in their path, as well as the struggle between good and evil to maintain balance in the world. So how did it happen back then, and who inspired Mozart to write?

The robber Voděra had a son named Matěj, whom he sent to learn from his grandfather Dobroděd. He wanted him to grow up to be a decent person. However, Matěj fell in love with his grandfather's granddaughter Juchejka, a crazy young sorceress who performed incredible feats...

A tragic event in the family, forever marked the relationship between father and son. A fresh breeze into their torn relationship could be a young lady - the son's girlfriend. But the father is bitter and willful.

A little girl who, like Alice in Wonderland, wanders through the landscape of her childhood as if through an enchanted labyrinth, observing and recording the world.

Actor Milan lost his job and is trying unsuccessfully to find new employment. He is struggling to support his large family, while his wife Karolína, the wife of a business tycoon, longs in vain for at least one child. Their paths cross when she is looking for a donor of high-quality sperm and Milan is still unemployed...

Every castle hides some secret. This is no different in the fairy tale Treasure at Owl Castle. Deep underground at Owl Castle lies a treasure guarded by a golden owl. The treasure has remained hidden from the human world for centuries. Only the fairy-tale gnomes Kilián and Damián and their friend Emilka the owl knew of its existence. And if these gnomes had not happened to meet the children Honzík and Andělka, the treasure would have remained hidden forever. But gnomes are talkative creatures, and children are very curious. So it wasn't long before the stingy and greedy duchess from the nearby castle found out about the treasure. The wealth left to her by the duke wasn't enough for her; she wanted more and more. So she decided to get the golden treasure at any cost. This put not only herself but also the children in dangerous situations.

Famous actor Bořivoj Vojan arrives unexpectedly at a student film festival in a small town. The smug, aging man has bruised his ribs on the way and his frustration deepens with every passing minute of his stay – the amateurish organization of the festival, the lousy food, the private accommodation with the confused grandmother Pánková. What's more, he has no idea that one of the most unpleasant encounters awaits him, with the local drunk journalist Merhautová. But there is also tension among the students who organize the festival – Míra is ambitious and promiscuous, Šárka is kind and naive, Jana is beautiful and manipulative, and Matyáš is perpetually stoned and childishly in love.

Zdena, a young nurse, starts her first night shift at an old people’s home and immediately faces a difficult task: she has to deal with the body of a deceased client. A gentle portrait of faltering youth and a realistic tale of an encounter with death in a blend of physically intense moments and absurd humour.

Best friends Bětka and Alma are spending a dull summer at a lakeside with Bětka’ s older sister Marie. The teenage girls want to experience something big but their efforts fail until they discover a mysterious pool on an island.

Humorous as well as educational stories about magical and everyday problems, about devils, miracles, ordinary human vices and wisdom. The graphic design of the stories reflects the humour and the atmosphere of the stories Fimfárum, When the Leaves Fall from the Oak, Franta the Fearless, A Dream Come True, and Greedy Barka, that were recorded by Jan Werich on an LP in the 1960’s and published in a book called Fimfarum.

Many important things can happen in ninety-three years of human history. As in the seemingly ordinary story of Grandma Marta, one of our most successful contemporary short film authors combines archival materials, animation, and documentary.

Do you also love shopping? Does the word sale make your heart beat faster? Shopaholic Klára feels the same way. A shopping-obsessed forty-something hits the sales with such passion that she doesn't even notice her husband finding a younger model during her shopping marathon. With a bruised ego and without her successful husband's credit card, Klára starts over from scratch. She's looking for a new job, a new man, but most of all, herself.

A charming comedy based on the life of polar explorer, writer, and storyteller J. E. Welzl.

Otakar Vávra walks through Prague in front of the camera and with the camera, and remembers those who in the 1930s determined the pulse of the cultural and political life of that time.

A Chod folk tale in which the evil Markyta envies her friend Marjánka her husband and especially the pub they share. One day, on her way back from the fair, he drowns her and takes her place. In time, when she starts to resent Marjanka's son, she drowns him too, not knowing that they are not both dead, but thanks to her delusions they live on in the pond. The brave and courageous Hanky learns everything and forces Markyta to confess and rescues them both.

In a desolate landscape process strange creatures. The foreman of the group picks a suitable spot and the whole multiplying colony starts excavating a pit. They encounter various natural disasters that ruin their efforts – but the colonists always rise from the ruins and continue their work. We do unequivocally sympathise… till the moment when we return to the people’s daily lives.

This fairy tale, based on an old French legend, takes place in the Middle Ages at the court of King Pepin. The king wants to marry and, on the advice of Duke Akilon, decides to court the Hungarian princess Bertha. Although the princess has a physical flaw—her feet are too large—Pepin does not care much about that. He remembers how he was friends with Bertha as a little boy and even then admired her bravery. Duke Akilon therefore sets off for Hungary to ask for Princess Bertha's hand in marriage for his king. However, he has his own plan and has no idea what will thwart it.

Longitudinal documentary film was shot for past 16 years and the main protagonist is Roman musician and activist Vojta Lavička. Vojta is a master in violin play, who focuses not only on music but also deals with problems of his origin Roman nationality. Vojta is very active in media - he worked in the national radio and television, he worked in the NGO that organize street work for Roman ghettos around the Czech republic, Vojta worked also as a social worker. All together we can watch him struggling with the main topic of his life - his national minority and problems that are caused by living next to Czech majority. Aside this topic films discovers Vojta's private life and his fight for being a good musician and a good man.

Sad love story about Martin, who is sent to a psychiatric hospital for observation after displays of hooliganism, and Markéta who is recovering from post-traumatic shock after her mother's suicide.

A serial killer is on the loose in the small town of Petrovice, murdering students at the local high school. The police are searching for the perpetrator, but they can't find any clues. Everything points to the masked killer targeting Karin Tomečková, whose parents were brutally murdered eight months ago. The murders are increasing, as are the number of suspects. The police are trying to catch the killer before it's too late. The killer could be anywhere.

A religious sect congregates by a lake in a forest. They are preparing to perform a baptism the next day, but teenage Anna has her own plans. She is fed up with life in the strict community and longs to experience freedom for the first time.

Šimon (46) has been suffering from insomnia for several years. Behind the illusion of a secure and happy life, he has a monotonous job he doesn't like, his wife looks down on him, his son doesn’t take him seriously, and Šimon has long since lost any hope for change. But then he discovers a 16-year-old YouTuber on his son’s computer whose ASMR videos finally help him to sleep. But he soon realises that the girl means much more to him than he had thought. The illusion begins to crumble.

The story of an entrepreneur who wants to bankrupt his company in an "honest" way. To ensure that everything goes smoothly, he deliberately hires people whom he believes are completely and utterly incompetent for the job. It turns out to be a brilliant move. Unfortunately, however, only until they start to succeed. And so begins an exhausting battle with idiots... But who is who?

A young king is expected to visit a country estate. The haughty countess would like to win his heart, so she longs for a dress made from the most beautiful fabric. After a long search, she finds a special shimmering silk at the mysterious White Old Woman's. However, the old woman warns her. The silk belongs to Lady Storm, and whoever wears a dress made from it will be cursed. The countess takes the fabric anyway and has a dress made by the village tailor. His daughter Anička cannot resist and secretly tries on the beautiful gown and veil. A young man named Lukáš sees her in the open doorway and cannot take his eyes off her. Suddenly, however, a wind blows and the girl disappears before his eyes, along with her veil. Lukáš decides to find Anička, whom he cannot forget, at any cost...

Jane is about to have a beautiful weekend in the mountains with her boyfriend – at least, that’s what she thinks. But instead of her boyfriend, three uninvited guests show up at her doorstep, and they’re not going away. It’s getting dark, a contest begins, and Jane happens to be the grand prize. There’s only one person who can help her.