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Forman knighted to Legion of Honour. Birmingham hit by CzechMania
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Current AffairsCzech cinematographic legend is rewarded for his lifetime of achievement
The legendary cinematographer Miroslav Ondricek will be presented the
American Society of Cinematographers International Achievement Award this
weekend in Los Angeles, California. The prolific cameraman began his
career in Czechoslovakia, with the emergence of what was known as the
"New Wave" of Eastern European filmmakers in the early 1960s. He
began his career working on documentaries and later started studying at
the Prague film school FAMU. He entered the Hollywood mainstream during
the late 1970s and now has 40 film credits and a number of Oscar
nominations under his belt. Mr. Ondricek made some time to speak to Kay
Grigar before he flew to LA Wednesday morning.
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Czechs TodayMilos Forman - A few notes on Loves of a Blonde, Amadeus, & The People VS. Larry Flynt
There are only a very few European film directors who were ever able to
make the transition to Hollywood cinema - and arguably none who made an
impact like Milos Forman - the Czech-born filmmaker whose One Flew Over
the Cuckoo's Nest became the first film since 1934 to win all five major
Academy Awards. Forman, whose Amadeus introduced millions of Americans to
Mozart as genius but also as an impetuous young man, whose high-pitched
laughter - the laughter of a child - erased the stodgy portrait of the
composer we all learned about in school. It took a director with a strong
sense of humour to do and perhaps a European background. But also enough
honesty and interest to bring characters' weaknesses to the fore,
contrasted with fleeting moments of beauty, accomplishment, sometimes
transcendence, as well as elusive moments of happiness. Moments that are
rare in life, but are the focus of much of Milos Forman's work.
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