Long Live the Republic

Long Live the Republic 1965

7.80

Oldrich is the runt of his village, beaten by his father, bullied by the other boys. But he has imagination on his side, and a wiry toughness they can’t defeat. The village is in turmoil, because the Nazi occupiers have just retreated and the Red Army is advancing. Oldrich dodges amid the mayhem and panic, taking his share of blows but always managing to stay one step ahead. Beautifully shot and darkly ironic, Karel Kachyna’s forgotten masterpiece jumbles reality, memory and fantasy to capture the intensity and confusion of childhood in a war zone.

1965

Clouds of Glass

Clouds of Glass 1958

6.80

A young boy’s infatuation with flight is the subject of Vláčil’s poetic, prize-winning early short, made for the Czechoslovak Army’s film unit.

1958

The End of August at the Hotel Ozone

The End of August at the Hotel Ozone 1967

6.20

A troupe of young women on post-apocalyptic earth are lead around by a mistress born before the war, eventually stumbling into the company of a lonely old man.

1967

Forest

Forest 1969

1

A poetic melodramatic documentary inspired by the death of Jan Palach. The footage from the funeral is accompanied by the words of Maxim Gorky's Old Woman Izergil (On the Flaming Danek's Heart), sung by Kühn's mixed choir, solos by Milada Sýkorová and Jiří Němeček. The apotheosis of a leader who sacrificed himself to save his people, warning of the cowardice of the crowd.

1969

They Shall Not Pass

They Shall Not Pass 1953

1

A documentary depicting the Czechoslovak army's border patrol.

1953