Czech film and the Berlinale

Features editor Petr Fischer observes that 17 years have passed since the last time a Czech film competed in the Berlinale, which starts today in Berlin. Once again Jiri Menzel, who in 1990 won the Golden Bear for his film "Larks on a String", is representing the country with his film version of Bohumil Hrabal's famous novel "I served the King of England". "The fact that they waited for a Menzel film to come along underscores how Czech cinema is perceived abroad. The 'Czech New Wave', of which Menzel was one of the main protagonists, still has a name abroad, but was followed by a void. As far as Europe was concerned, Czech film died in the 1970s." Fischer points out that in Hollywood, on the other hand, Czech cinema has repeatedly caused a sensation because there they focus more on technique than on values. "It seems Czech filmmakers find it easier to impress Americans than audiences or professionals in Europe. Exceptions like Menzel's 'English King' only confirm the rule."

» full article (external link, Czech)
More from the press review on the subject » Film, » Czech Republic
All available articles from » Petr Fischer

» To the complete press review of Thursday, February 8, 2007