Topic Archive Culture
Filmmaking legend Otakar Vávra dies at 100
Czech filmmaking legend Otakar Vávra – who turned 100 earlier – has
died in Prague. Over the course of a remarkable career, Mr Vávra –
praised by many of the film elite – directed more than 50 films, from
early dramas to acclaimed projects in the 1960s like Witches’ Hammer. More
Czech Museum of Music celebrates Dvořák's 170th birthday
It’s September, and all other anniversaries aside, that means the
birthday season of the genius Antonín Dvořák. Had the Czech musical
maestro lived to his deserved age he would be 170-years-old this month,
and
music-lovers and –ologists are marking the occasion with all due
enthusiasm. Alongside the Dvořák festivals and radio tributes this month
there is also the uniquely interesting, interactive Dvořák exhibition at
the Czech Museum of Music (Karmelitská 2, Malá Strana), which is our
destination in this week’s Spotlight. More
New best-seller leads to speculation over author’s affair with former president Václav Havel
A novel titled “Secret Book” has been flying off the shelves in Czech
bookstores. In it, author Irena Obermannová describes her secret affair
with a figure that she refers to as “the greatest Czech.” The author is
known for her very open, often autobiographical style of writing – and
since the book’s male protagonist shares many traits with former
president Václav Havel, there is heated speculation over the veracity of
her account. Culture and society journalist Jana Ciglerová talks about the
juicy bestseller. More
Egon Hostovský, "a European among the sprinklers"
For Czechs, the 20th century was a turbulent time. Independent
Czechoslovakia was founded in 1918 only to later fall victim to the two
great tyrannies of modern history – Nazism and communism. Many Czechs
fled their country during the 20th century so that they could live as free
people, and often simply to save their lives. Wednesday marks the 100th
anniversary of the birth of Egon Hostovský, one of the most distinctive
and significant modern-day Czech writers, who fled his country twice, first
to escape the Nazis, and later the Communists. More
Eva Eislerová – Czech designer who reached top of jewellery world in NYC
The Czech artist and designer Eva Eislerová originally wanted to be an
architect. Instead, she became one of the most highly regarded makers of
art jewellery in the world, after emigrating to New York in the 1980s with
her half-Czech, half-English husband, John Eisler. Today Eva Eisler, as she
is known to her collectors, spends most of her time back home in Prague,
where she teaches at the metals department at the Academy of Arts,
Architecture and Design. More
Music from the Noughties
In this week’s Sunday Music Show we highlight some of brightest new rock
and pop acts in the Czech Republic. Listen to fresh tracks from Bek Ofis
and a brace by Prague funk outfit Monkey Business – as well as a classic
from the first winner of Czech Pop Idol. More
New York Czech centre head Pavla Niklová: Czech films are the biggest attraction
The heads of Czech cultural centres from around the world gathered in
Prague last week to share ideas and make plans for the future. I met up
with Pavla Niklová – head of the Czech centre in New York to talk about
the kind of events that are organized and how popular they are with the
public. More
“If I had been a boy, I would have been shot…” Part 9
We have reached the ninth and final part of our serialized reading of “If
I had been a boy, I would have been shot…” by Jaroslava Skleničková.
The war is over, and Jaroslava’s account takes us from the traumas of her
return to the present day, and her life with her husband Mirek in the new
Lidice. But first, David Vaughan sums up the story so far. More
Surviving Life - Master Švankmajer returns to the screen with a ‘psychoanalytical comedy’
It is only every five years or so that the renowned Czech animator Jan
Švankmajer brings out a new film, and the wait is now over. “Surviving
Life” draws on many of Švankmajer’s traditional themes and styles
while exploring them through an experimental medium, once again confirming
why he is the most acclaimed Czech art house director at home and abroad. More
From Morning till Night and more
The Czech Cultural Centre in London is gearing up for a big event this
weekend – an exhibition of visual art by the Czech-born artist Kateřina
Šedá called from Morning till Night. I asked the head of the centre,
Ladislav Pflimpfl, who was on a brief visit to Prague this week, what it is
all about and what else is in the pipeline for fans of Czech art this
autumn. More
+1
+10
+100
