Music by Zdeněk Liška

Vlasta Šrůtková has lived through many ups and down not just in her own life, but in the life of her country. She is exceptionally vital for her age, living on Prague’s Kampa Island, a perfect place for reflecting on Czech history, identity, the nation. Her life is an exceptionally strong story in which the central event of our country are also key moments in her own life. 

Although it is still a legal grey area, an increasing number of children in the Czech Republic are born to surrogate mothers who act as something like an incubator for the genetic material of other couples. But can you give birth to a child, hand it to someone else, and then go on with your life as if nothing has happened? What if the child “doesn’t turn out right” or if the couple has second thoughts about parenthood?

A look at a forgotten chapter in modern Czech history. The “armed fist of the working class,” formed from various factory guard units on the instigation of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, began operating under the guidance of the Central Union Committee in May 1945. After the communist takeover in 1948, the People’s Militia was sent upon orders of the Communist Party to “defend” the borders or to act against students, farmers, the church, demonstrators protesting the currency reform. Their actions against anti-regime gatherings in 1969 resulted in several deaths. They also acted brutally during the demonstrations in Prague in 1988 and 1989.

An increasing number of people dream of an ideal life with a minimal environmental footprint. But what would such a life look like, and is it even possible to live such a life in modern civilization? Mira Ahimsa has been trying for nine years. He lives without money or modern amenities. He doesn’t cut his hair, beard, or fingernails, and doesn’t even start fires.

Where do xenophobic attitudes in society come from, and why have they been on the rise in the Czech society? Documentary filmmaker Apolena Rychlíková tries to find an answer in Brno, where the country’s neo-Nazis have come together on 1 May 2015 for a Europe-wide neo-Nazi and fascist event they are calling “For a Pure Europe.”

Alois and Ladislav Rašín, who paid for their lives for their patriotic endeavors, did not get the recognition they deserved, and after the communist takeover in 1948 their names were erased from memory. Their forgotten lives are now recalled in a historical docudrama featuring Alois Rašín’s great-granddaughter Karolina Breitenmoser. 

Rooting for something or someone has always been part of human culture. It would be hard to find a single human being who does not support anything and anyone. Sports fan form a special category, but unfortunately we mainly hear of them in the context of violence at stadiums or in the streets. But there is a poetic side to this fandom that often remains hidden to the eyes of TV news audience.

We have more in common with our Polish neighbors than we might think. A similar history, similar fates suffered by our heroes, and Karel Kryl. A parallel biographical look at the lives of Karel Kryl and the director Krystyna Krauze, who was born in the Polish town of Oliwa. A few years after her birth, Kryl’s song The Organ in Oliwa would become the unofficial hymn of Poland’s Solidarity movement.

An intimate insight into the life of a legendary singer during his tour with Fragile. The documentary delves deep into his momentary feelings, strongly affected by bipolar disorder from which he has suffered for many years. The authors also probe his past, looking at the part of his career linked with drugs and volatile relationships with women.

Traveler and explorer Dan Přibáň and his unconventional team set out on their most demanding trek to date, which takes them across Australia, East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The crews of the yellow two-stroke cars spend half a year testing their abilities, interpersonal skills, and friendships under extreme conditions.

The path of Petr Zuska to grand dance and choreography led from the Prague Chamber Ballet, the ballet ensemble of the National Theatre, the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens to the post of the head of the National Theatre Ballet where he spent the last 15 years. This documentary maps his work during his last year as the head of the National Theatre Ballet.

Rock legend Vladimír Mišík has his own little planet. It was discovered in 1995 by Czech astronomers from Kleť Observatory who named it in Mišík’s honour. And it is mostly on this very planet that Jitka Němcová’s new documentary about Vladimír Mišík and his beautiful songs takes place, reminiscing on all the weird things that happened in his life and recounting a rather thrilling search.