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Current AffairsComedy creator Ladislav Smoljak dies aged 78
One of the greats of Czech film and theatre, Ladislav Smoljak, died at the
age of 78 at the weekend. As a director, screenwriter and actor, Smoljak,
brought his special humour to the stage and screen over more than four
decades. He will perhaps be best remembered as one of the creators of the
fictional Czech character Jára Cimrman.
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Current AffairsPremiere of Havel’s Leaving just one of Czech cultural events taking place in London this autumn
The English language and international premiere of Václav Havel’s latest
play Leaving takes place in London this Friday. It is part of a season
focused on the former president’s work which is being organised in
conjunction with London’s Czech Centre. I discussed the Havel season, and
other highlights of this autumn’s programme, with the centre’s
director, Ladislav Pflimpfl.
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Current AffairsFormer president Havel and friends encourage Czechs to read to their children
Now, are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin... Once upon a time, in a
land far, far, away, a group of celebrities met to read their favourite
fairytales to children who had gathered to listen. On Tuesday night, former
President Vaclav Havel was joined by musicians, sportspeople, and
filmmakers at an event called 'From My Favourite Children's Book...' The
evening included readings from well-known Czech children's classics, as
well as songs, and stories written by Mr. Havel himself. This mix of music
and fairytale seemed to go down a treat with the hundreds of children
present.
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Current AffairsKarlovy Vary film festival closes with awards ceremony
The 42nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival came to a close on
Saturday night with a glitzy ceremony at the town's Thermal hotel. The
festival's prize the Crystal Globe was presented to a number of directors
and actors - and to US star Danny DeVito, who got an award for outstanding
contribution to world cinema.
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Current AffairsNew film by successful Sveraks arrives at Czech cinemas
It has been six years since the father-and-son filmmaking team of Zdenek
and Jan Sverak last premiered a new film, making their latest Vratne Lahve
- Refundable Bottles - a much-anticipated project. Over the years the
father and son, who won the Best Foreign film Oscar for 1996's Kolya, had
something of a professional "falling out" when son Jan rejected
an earlier version of his father's script. But both eventually found
consensus on a final version and are now back at full force.
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Current AffairsAltay mountain to be named after fictitious Czech character
Prague's Jara Cimrman Theatre, named after a popular fictitious character,
is about to become involved in an unusual undertaking. It has put together
a group of actors and professional climbers who will visit Russia's Altay
Mountains this summer. When they get there they plan to christen a
hitherto name-less peak - after Jara Cimrman.
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ArtsKolya celebrates 10th anniversary, Havel takes New York by storm
In this week's edition - playwright Vaclav Havel takes New York by storm in
a major retrospective of his works, and also picks up the theatre awards he
was denied for more than two decades. And the highly successful Czech film
Kolya celebrates its tenth anniversary.
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