Hermína Týrlová’s Czech Christmas Treasures

In today’s post, we step into the enchanting world of Hermína Týrlová’s Christmas-themed animated film shorts, where every frame is a tapestry of creativity and whimsy. As a prominent Czech animator, screenwriter, and film director, Týrlová’s masterful storytelling and innovative use of materials come to life in these beautifully crafted tales. Through her unique techniques,...

ENTERTAINMENT, Holidays, Movies

October 22, 2023

Jirí Trnka’s ‘The Devil’s Mill’

Jirí Trnka, a luminary in the world of stop-motion animation, left an indelible mark with his 1949 short film, ‘The Devil’s Mill’ (Certuv mlýn). Spanning a concise 21 minutes, this hauntingly atmospheric piece unfolds a fable set in a mysterious, moonlit night where a barrel organ grinder encounters the devil. Trnka’s genius shines through as...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

September 17, 2023

Antonin Dvorak Movie Shares Romantic Life

In the world of classical music, few names shine as brightly as Antonin Dvorak. His compositions have left an indelible mark on the world’s musical heritage, and his journey from the heart of Europe to the bustling streets of New York City is the stuff of legend. But behind the genius of his symphonies and...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

February 26, 2023

Czechoslovakian Filmmakers

Czechoslovakian Filmmakers: A Legacy of Innovative Storytelling and Cinematic Excellence (*Please give the page a few moments to load the videos fully.) Czechoslovakia was known for its rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions, and its film industry was no exception. From the late 19th century until its dissolution in 1993, Czechoslovakia produced several talented and...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

February 10, 2023

A Night at Karlstein | Noc na Karlštejně

A Night at Karlstein (Czech: Noc na Karlštejně) is a 1973 Czech historical musical film. It tells the story of Emperor Charles IV and his castle Karlstein. Charles IV, the Czech king, and Holy Roman Emperor built Karlstejn castle to house the crown jewels. More importantly, it is a place of relaxation and meditation, so...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

November 11, 2022

The Works of Jan Svankmajer

Czech surrealist filmmaker Jan Svankmajer has been producing work since the 1960s. He is best known for his imaginative and frequently macabre films. With his distinct style, he merges live-action video with animation, stop-motion, and other visual storytelling techniques. Jan Svankmajer was born in 1934 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and grew up in a family with...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

October 21, 2022

The Czech Who Invented Stylized Special Effects

What do Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam, Tim Burton, Wes Anderson, and the Brothers Quay all have in common? The answer is stylized special effects. Stylized special effects tell their story through the use of exaggerated or simplified shapes, motions, and colors. The story is represented in a non-naturalistic conventional form as opposed to a realistic...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

October 16, 2022

The Legend of the Golem of Prague

Today we are revisiting the Golem of Prague. We’ve written about this before in our post The Legend of The Golem but our friend Barbara S. Weitz shared the following information which we’ve decided to share here with you because it’s so interesting. We hope you enjoy it. Who is the Golem? The Golem is...

Books, History, Movies

October 6, 2022

The Czech New Wave

There are many so-called “new waves” in film history, from the French nouvelle vague (1959 through the middle 1960s) to the present day. While such monikers serve many purposes, including facilitating international marketing , they do identify those regions where, for any number of reasons, particularly fertile and original bodies of creative work have emerged....

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

September 15, 2022

Perfect Horse – Lipizzaner Rescue from Hostau

I just finished reading The Perfect Horse: The Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis by Elizabeth Letts. Not only was this rescue a humanitarian act involving saving horses with a pedigree and lineage dating back hundreds of years but this rescue was also one bright moment in the war...

Books, LIFESTYLE, Movies

September 8, 2022

Watch This: Medieval — The Story of Jan Žižka

I just learned that there is a new film starring Ben Foster as the Czech hero Jan Žižka, entitled Medieval in the United States and Jan Žižka for Czechs. It is a historical epic which will hit Prague cinemas on September 8, 2022 alongside a limited release in other markets including the United States on...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

August 22, 2022

Czech Immigrants Who Came Through Ellis Island

I am thinking of all those Moravian, Slovak, and Czech immigrants who came through Ellis Island. Those who came before us, and how so many of them are simply forgotten. Due to the ravages of time, many of the stories of these immigrants will remain mysteries forever. Not only the people, but their entire lives....

Bohemians, History, Movies

August 16, 2022

Elvis Presley in the Czech Republic

Today is August 16th, the day Elvis Presley died in 1977. I cannot believe it has been 45 years. Like so many others, I know exactly where I was the day Elvis died. I was in the car with my mother, in Redondo Beach, California. The radio was playing and suddenly the music was interrupted...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

August 10, 2022

The Czech Man Who Fell from the Sky

Petr Horák was born on May 7, 1943 in Nusle (Prague) to Štěpánka and Oldřich Horák. As a young boy, Peter swam competitively and played water polo. He enjoyed skiing, riding a bike, playing table tennis, ice hockey, and soccer. At the age of ten, however, the doctor forbade Peter to partake in anymore sports...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

The Gray Man Showcases Prague as World Locations

August 2, 2022

The Gray Man Film Showcases Prague

The Gray Man is reportedly Netflix’s biggest budget original film, with a budget of $250 million. It debuted on Netflix on July 22, 2022. The film is a cinematic adaptation of Mark Greaney’s novel of the same name and features stunning footage throughout Prague. Filming in Prague began on June 27, 2021, and ended on...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies, Prague

July 16, 2022

Most—The Story of the Bridge Film

Want to watch a 30 minute Czech film (with subtitles) that will literally change your life? That is the gift I am bringing you today. The film Most (The Bridge) is so touching, it is perhaps the most poetic, powerful and brilliant piece of film making I have seen in recent memory. I guarantee you...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies