Jakub Hrůša versus Leoš Janáček’s The Makropulos Affair

A portrait of the family of a Czech sinologist on a mission to improve Czech-Chinese relations. Deeply convinced as to the correctness of his actions, the young man builds a new city in China and spreads the Czech language. The camera composes the protagonists into visually powerful scenes from Chinese streets and the countryside. The scenery, polluted by the dirty air, creates space for contemplating on the differences and similarities of our cultures.

Pavel Landovský is not only an enfant terrible of Czech acting, but also the author of the successful play Hoteliér. More than 40 years after its creation, director Jan Kačer decides that he and Landovský will put it on again. Joining him will be Vladimír Pucholt, Josef Abrhám and Libuše Šafránková. But Kačer isn't interested as much in bringing these famous actors back before audiences as in trying to pull Landovský out of the lethargy caused by his state of health.

Issues related to gender equality in the Czech society are discussed on many levels, with much stronger intensity and on a much larger scale than what was previously imaginable. Helped by growing media coverage, several recently founded associations and organizations try to raise awareness towards such issues among general public. These groups are often rejected by our society, much more often than politicians with their controversial statements. The documentary tries to stir the still waters of stereotypical attitudes through the “parades” of the male and female members of feminist groups.

Jitka Němcová's feature-length film about singer-songwriter Zuzana Michnová, among other things the main singer with the legendary Czech band Marsyas. Not a classical documentary, the film is instead a collage of reminiscences, rare archival material, re-enactments, interviews, and footage from a sold-out concert at Prague's La Fabrica. The unusual editing, combined with an emotional narrative and absurd situations, is for all those who love Zuzana, Marsyas and good music.

A portrait of a talented woman whose life was strongly influenced by the history of communist Czechoslovakia. Marta Kubišová is a symbol of the Velvet Revolution, a singer, and a mother. Th is commemorative collage brings together the singer’s personal confessions, his torical events and songs. From the blending together of her personal and professional lives, a complex parable emerges of a woman and the time.

This film compares the fates of two newborns, whose parents either could not or did not want to care for them. Whilst one is placed into a temporary guardian’s care immediately after birth, the other is sent to a residential care home for infants. The documentary explores the system in place for handling unwanted newborns. At the same time, it also raises several controversial issues.

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. 

A short film about a small, family-owned non-profit organisation that is helping in one of the poorest countries in the world. Thanks to their close cooperation with Carmelite missions that form more or less the only long-term stable structure in the Central African Republic, SIRIRI has been able to get close to specific people and problems. The documentary is part of the series “Czechs On A Mission”, which has the goal of presenting various types of Czech humanitarian and development aid throughout the world.

He's one of the longest-serving psychiatrists and psychotherapists in the world. At the age of eighty, he still actively works at three clinics, writes a respected blog and publishes popular bestselling books. His dream was to become a general practitioner in Šumava, instead he ended up in the “crazy house”. He was behind the creation of many bluebooks for Czech dissidents and he was the first person in our nation's history to begin devoting himself to psychosomatic medicine. Above all, he is a people person and puts his life in the service of humankind in all its bizarre forms.

The life story of jockey Martina Růžičková is full of loss, pain, and obstacles, but she also managed to face up to adversity with newfound strength and resolve. How does she live today, did she succeed in entering the Great Pardubice Steeplechase at age 50, and what surprises did she experience thanks to Folie d’Ocean, the mare bought for her by famous Finnish racecar driver Mika Häkkinen?

A documentary film about trying to save an antelope species known as the giant eland. For more than 15 years, a team from the Czech Republic has been fighting to ensure its survival. Why do efforts at saving exotic animals often come from Westerners and not from those who share the same environment as the endangered species?

A portrait documentary of a fragile woman made of steel and the most prominent representative of Czech architecture of all time. The film captures the inner workings and artistic world of an architect more famous abroad than in her own home country. Her doubts, joys, inspirations, incredible energy, and desire to create and be forever relevant take centrefold.You can watch this film HERE.