A Drop Too Much – O Skleničku Víc

In the enchanting realm of puppet animation, where strings dance to narratives both whimsical and profound, Jirí Trnka’s “A Drop Too Much” (1954) emerges as a poignant cautionary tale, transcending its strings to deliver a sobering message. Clocking in at a mere 14 minutes, this short film delicately balances artistry, storytelling, and a socially conscious...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

October 11, 2021

Czech Animation – The Cybernetic Grandma

In Jirí Trnka’s visionary 1962 Czechoslovakian stop-motion puppet cartoon, “The Cybernetic Grandma” (Kybernetická babička), a compelling sci-fi narrative unfolds, offering a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of machines and robots attempting to replace the irreplaceable bonds of human relationships. Trnka’s artistic vision delicately balances poetic fragility with dramatic warnings as it explores a dystopian...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

June 17, 2021

The White Disease aka Bílá Nemoc

A virus that first appeared in China, spread by shaking hands, putting the elderly at risk. The Czechoslovak film The White Disease (1937) evokes current headlines, but uses the epidemic primarily as a perspective on war and dictatorship. Bílá nemoc (The White Disease – as in leprosy) is a play written by Czech novelist Karel...

ENTERTAINMENT, LIFESTYLE, Movies

June 13, 2021

Classic Czech Dinner and a Movie

It’s time for a classic Czech dinner and a movie. Today, I am sharing the recipe for Šípková Omáčka – Czech Rosehip Sauce and Pajfalský knedlík – Pajfal dumplings from Slavnosti snezenek / The Snowdrop Festivities film. A delicious recipe, a fun film, and a wonderfully spent Czech-inspired afternoon project to enjoy a great meal...

LIFESTYLE, Movies, Recipes

June 11, 2021

The Grapes – Film for Moravian Wine Lovers

I love the Czech (Moravian) wine country as much as I love their wine. The Grapes is a fun Czech comedy series which did a great job of showing off Moravian wine country and even a bit about what it’s like to run a winery while telling a fun story of a young rascal, his...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

June 1, 2021

Jan Mikolášek: Charlatan or Healer

Jan Mikolášek (April 7, 1889 – December 29, 1973) was a Czech healer and herbalist. He grew up in a family of gardeners and then trained professionally in the field. He trained with spice maker Josefa Mühlbacherová, and he admired the Viennese professor, Valentin Zeileis from Gallspach. The provided excerpt offers just a glimpse into...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies, PEOPLE

April 9, 2021

Archangel Gabriel and Mistress Goose

Jirí Trnka’s cinematic brilliance takes a playful turn in “Archandel Gabriel a paní Husa” (1965), a joyful puppet film that draws inspiration from Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron. Set against the backdrop of medieval Venice, this 28-minute whimsical creation weaves a tale of love, humor, and the intervention of none other than Archangel Gabriel. The provided excerpt...

Movies

December 1, 2020

Czech Christmas Mass

Today we are bringing you a classic Czech animated film by Jakub Jan Ryba entitled Česká mše vánoční or Czech Christmas Mass, Hej mistře, with animated images by Josef Lada. It originally appeared on Czech TV in 1966. Beno Blachut, Jaroslava Vymazalová, Marie Mrázová, and Zdeněk Kroupa are the singers of the soundtrack of Czech...

CULTURE, Holidays, Movies

April 18, 2020

JoJo Rabbit and Propaganda

Jojo Rabbit is a 2019 comedy-drama film written and directed by Taika Waititi, based on Christine Leunens’s 2008 book Caging Skies. Jojo Rabbit was filmed in various locations around the Czech Republic. To be more specific, Barrandov Studio, Chcebuz, Dolní Berkovice, Kytín, Petschek Palace (Petschkův palác), Prague, Úštěk, and Žatec. Roman Griffin Davis portrays the...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

January 4, 2020

Watch This: The Sorrows of Lenka or Trápení

Also known as The Sorrows of Lenka, The Proud Stallion, The Stress of Youth, Suffering, the Czech film Trápení is an engaging drama by director Karel Kachyna about the growing pains of a young teenage girl (Jorga Kotrbova) and the hardships of a noble steed mistreated by a cruel neighboring farmer. She is having a...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

October 6, 2019

… And Give My Love to the Swallows

Are you interesting true WWII story about the Czech Resistance and a young woman’s role? If so, you will enjoy … And Give My Love to the Swallows, where you will learn about a woman from the past, one whom few remember and the young generation probably does not know at all. Resistance fighter Marie...

History, Movies, Women

October 3, 2019

Czech and Slovak Cinema

Czech and Slovak cinema is finally beginning to make an appearance on the world stage. Among the most successful Czech films made after the fall of communism are: Kolya, Divided We Fall, Cosy Dens, Loners, I Served the King of England and Walking Too Fast. The first Czech CGI animated movie was The GOAT Store...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

Groovy Dancing and Communist Tanks: Stark Contrasts of Prague in August of 1968

August 16, 2019

Caught in the Clash of Groovy Dancing and Communist Tanks – Prague Spring 1968

What does groovy dancing have to do with communist tanks? Not much, but one day in August of 1968, groovy music videos were being filmed simultaneously in and around Prague. A popular television program at the time, Europarty had crews filming music videos for the show. It was the height of Prague Spring, and there...

History, Music, NOSTALGIA

July 18, 2019

Movie Scenes from Prague

Today we are looking at movie scenes from Prague. Many films and music videos choose Prague for obvious reasons, it’s beautiful, picturesque, romantic, haunting, glamorous, unique, and well… just picture perfect. Each of these videos are just a few minutes, so take a peek and enjoy your little video visit to Prague. Mission Impossible –...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

June 25, 2019

Watch This: Swingtime – StB – A False State Border Within the Republic

Imagine it… The StB – A false state border within the republic – and a fictional story of people who have crossed it. This is the theme of the the 2006 film Swingtime. It focuses on the so-called akce Kámen (Stone action), during which State Security agents deliberately mystified the citizens of the Czechoslovak Republic. Especially...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

June 16, 2019

Zem Spieva or the Earth Sings – A Czech/Slovak Magnum Opus

Zem spieva (The Earth Sings) is a 1933 Czech documentary film written and directed by Karel Plicka (in Slovak: Karol Plicka) (1894 – 1987), a Czechoslovak photographer, film director, cinematographer, folklorist, and pedagogue. He is considered a founder of Slovak film education and film making. He helped establish the genre of ethnographic film in Czechoslovakia. Following Karel Plicka’s graduation...

History, Movies, PEOPLE