Jan Špáta

A minimalist portrait of ultimate love.

Sociological study of the real values of young people in socialism.

"A refined film essay about the loneliness, wisdom and humility of old women. The film, most valued by Jan Špáta, was awarded the Grand Prize at the International Short Film Festival in Oberhausen, the Trilobit Award and Special Mention at the IFF in Karlovy Vary."

A dryly humourous quasi-philosophical account of the nature and psyche of Scotland and its natives, from the perspective of two visiting Czechs.

Documentary short about the title composer, born in what was called "Czechoslovakia" when the film was made.

A Czech documentary filmmaker's cinematic travelogue of Ireland.

Sociological study of the real values of young people in socialism.

Sociological study of the real values of young people in socialism.

"A refined film essay about the loneliness, wisdom and humility of old women. The film, most valued by Jan Špáta, was awarded the Grand Prize at the International Short Film Festival in Oberhausen, the Trilobit Award and Special Mention at the IFF in Karlovy Vary."

"A refined film essay about the loneliness, wisdom and humility of old women. The film, most valued by Jan Špáta, was awarded the Grand Prize at the International Short Film Festival in Oberhausen, the Trilobit Award and Special Mention at the IFF in Karlovy Vary."

A dryly humourous quasi-philosophical account of the nature and psyche of Scotland and its natives, from the perspective of two visiting Czechs.

Documentary short about the title composer, born in what was called "Czechoslovakia" when the film was made.

Documentary short about the title composer, born in what was called "Czechoslovakia" when the film was made.

A Czech documentary filmmaker's cinematic travelogue of Ireland.

No synopsis available yet.

No synopsis available yet.

In 1990, filmmaker Jan Špáta headed to the North Moravian border region to join photographer Jindřich Štreit. His social humanist black-and-white images of the most ordinary life situations were close to his heart and offered themselves as a means of bearing witness to the social and spiritual state of Czech society on the threshold of freedom. "By allowing myself to be carried away by the world of Štreit's photographs, it is, in terms of content, one of my most raw films", Špáta rightly says. Štreit recalls, "I showed him different settings, what he would be interested in, what he would like, and it is true that he had a very easy job in two ways. Firstly, because these people were used to being photographed, and secondly, I chose the most attractive settings and the most attractive people. I knew that they were photogenic and that these were carrying situations".

In 1990, filmmaker Jan Špáta headed to the North Moravian border region to join photographer Jindřich Štreit. His social humanist black-and-white images of the most ordinary life situations were close to his heart and offered themselves as a means of bearing witness to the social and spiritual state of Czech society on the threshold of freedom. "By allowing myself to be carried away by the world of Štreit's photographs, it is, in terms of content, one of my most raw films", Špáta rightly says. Štreit recalls, "I showed him different settings, what he would be interested in, what he would like, and it is true that he had a very easy job in two ways. Firstly, because these people were used to being photographed, and secondly, I chose the most attractive settings and the most attractive people. I knew that they were photogenic and that these were carrying situations".

Athletic Variations (Atletické variace, 28 min) is a sophisticated essay on winning and losing during the 1982 European Athletics Championships held in Athens.

Athletic Variations (Atletické variace, 28 min) is a sophisticated essay on winning and losing during the 1982 European Athletics Championships held in Athens.

In 1964, Jan Spáta created his documentary called Nejvetsí prání (1964), an enquette about the desires of the young generation. It was a time of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia and thus also a time of beautiful visons and desires. In 1969, the film was banned. Jan Spata came back to his "Greatest Wish" in 1990 and created a feature documentary comparing that period with the 1989 events. He even found some people interviewed in 1964 and asked them to speak again, now being 25 years older.

In 1964, Jan Spáta created his documentary called Nejvetsí prání (1964), an enquette about the desires of the young generation. It was a time of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia and thus also a time of beautiful visons and desires. In 1969, the film was banned. Jan Spata came back to his "Greatest Wish" in 1990 and created a feature documentary comparing that period with the 1989 events. He even found some people interviewed in 1964 and asked them to speak again, now being 25 years older.

A leading director of the Czech film renaissance provides a philosophical meditation on life and death, set amidst complex hospital apparatus and the sadness, hope, or resignation of the patients. Existentialist rather than optimist, the approach is one of humanistic atheism, accepting death as part of life. Interviews with doctors and nurses explore their outlook; all speak of death as a fact, without either sentimentality or religiosity. The studied objectivity of the film only imperfectly hides an intense emotionality.

The transformation of a traditional Caucasian village in the mountains of Dagestan.

The transformation of a traditional Caucasian village in the mountains of Dagestan.

In 1965, during eminent trumpeter Louis Armstrong’s visit to Prague, Jan Spata then a young promising documentary filmmaker, created the report 'Hallo Satchmo'.

In 1965, during eminent trumpeter Louis Armstrong’s visit to Prague, Jan Spata then a young promising documentary filmmaker, created the report 'Hallo Satchmo'.

No synopsis available yet.

No synopsis available yet.

No synopsis available yet.

No synopsis available yet.

An exploration of the declining birth rate in the Czechoslovakia.

No synopsis available yet.

Meat evokes happiness hormones, but behind the gentle words “pork belly” or “neck” lies a meat factory where meat is divided, quartered, and cut up. With sharp candour, this critical morality play draws attention to the ecological, economic, and ethical implications of factory pig farming, and the striking contrast between the Czech culture of overeating, and starvation in Africa.

A continuous, extreme show is held, every year, in Tesla Arena in Prague. The visitors can be impressed by shows of dangerous riding on motorcycles, amazing acrobatics on 4 wheel vehicles, etc…

A study of Czech mountain-climbers, taking place in Adrspach - Teplice Rocks and Prachov Rocks.

Where there are temptations, there must also be control. Jan Špáta and inspectors from the consumer council of communist Czechoslovakia’s national committees visit butcher shops in Prague 2. However, his film survey does not examine dishonest vendors, but rather the characters of customers, emphasizing the active role of citizens in dealing with dishonesty. Only customers who defend their interests can ensure that the price we pay for our passivity is as low as possible.