Hynek Bočan was a member of the Czech New Wave who drew his inspiration from literary works and displayed an exceptional sense of social irony and sarcasm in the films Nobody Will Laugh (Nikdo se nebude smát, 1965), Private Storm (Soukromá vichřice, 1967) and Honor and Glory (Čest a sláva, 1968). Deadpan humor, a sense of atmosphere, and an intellectual approach to the subject matter were characteristic of Bočan’s talent.Read More »
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One of the film’s topics is shown in the credit sequence: from above we watch the tracks made in the snow by people in the street. Eventually we see the beaten tracks that people don’t leave. Then the camera moves down and we watch the people who made the tracks- a policeman prominent among them- as they walk around greeting each other. Until the snow melts only two people- the central character and his girlfriend- consider leaving the tracks.Read More »
This historical film by Hynek Bočan touches upon the indecisiveness of the Czech nation, ready to bend the backbone in face of foreign rule. Situating the story at the close of the Thirty Year War enabled the depiction of the misery of the people that affects even an impoverished aristocratic milieu. Rudolf Hrušínský appears here in the role of an indecisive knight, persuaded for a long time and in vain to join the anti-Habsburg movement. The story does not only captivate through the depiction of manifold human characters, intrigues and sycophancy, but also through the circumstances ruling over the devastated farmstead, sunk in mud and crudeness. One of the best films with an updating tendency has come into being here, rightly being named along the such greats as Kladivo na čarodějnice (Witches’ Hammer).Read More »
Pasták is a Czech drama film. It was made by director Hynek Bočan in 1968 but only released in 1990.
A young teacher is sent to a rural reform school, where he is faced with brutality of the inmates. The story, based on the novel of the same name by Karel Misafi, was banned during the final editing of the film and was only finished and released after the Velvet Revolution.Read More »