
Directing
Karel Smyczek
Born 1950-03-31 · Mělník, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]
Acting credits
5.9The filmed fairy-tale is a comedy based on the classical story about Reason and Happiness. This enchanting couple is ever debating on which of the two is more important for mankind, their encounters are watched by the third fairy-tale figure aunt Envy. A story of true love that wins over the evil powers of immortal human envy.
The Immortal Woman
1993
7.2A story that takes place during Advent, we'll meet again with your favorite pair angel Petronel and devil Urias. Their eternal wrangling causes the rare apple from the tree of the knowledge to roll on earth. And that God is really angry. Petronel with Urias find themselves in a small Czech town on the eve of the feast of St. Nicholas. And after a series of human and "divine" tests our heroes eventually find that the path to knowledge leads primarily through self discovery through the strength of friendship, love and forgiveness skills.
Angel 2
2016
6.0A quarter century after the release of the original film, this sequel brings us a drama about platonic love, life retrospective and memories. Former schoolmates meet again in the mountains and it turns out they have not changed much. Even though so many years have passed, we can still see the souls of boys and girls we know from the teenage comedy Snowdrops and Aces; kids who participated in that legendary skiing course. Its nostalgic humour gives the film a bitter-sweet touch. Thawing Out follows the lives of the main heroes during a period of great changes. How did they manage to escape the traps and what scars have they suffered? Where did they want to go, how far have they got and what is still in front of them?
Snowdrops and Aces
1983
Documentary about Barrandov studios.
Kouzelný kopec
2023
7.2She was once the wife of an important man, lived in a beautiful house in Hradčany, and was friends with the famous race car driver Eliška Junková. Today, however, she lives somewhere on the outskirts of Prague in a ground-floor apartment overlooking the courtyard and the street, alone and abandoned by practically everyone. Her husband died a long time ago, and her life now consists only of regular meetings with the postwoman, who brings her pension and her favorite motoring magazines, and regular help at the rectory and the local church. She occasionally cooks and bakes for Father Jan, and with her characteristic willingness, she also does his laundry and ironing. However, one of the last certainties in her life collapses unexpectedly quickly—Father Jan is transferred somewhere to Hradec Králové and is replaced by a young priest who is used to doing everything himself. At that moment, a smiling young man with dark glasses and a flower in his hand enters Květa Galová's life.
The Cage
2019
6.0A dramatic action film about stuntmen who perform the most dangerous stunts in the film world. One day, however, one of them is struck by a family tragedy in which his son dies. The man cannot overcome this tragedy and ends up in a psychiatric ward. Will he be able to return with the help of his friends?
Cesta peklem
1995
6.0Widowed yeoman Tuma and his household are on their way to help the town of Kourim, which is under attack by the papist troops. His son Ondra is secretly following his father. Miksík the castellan, who is responsible for Ondra, finds himself forced to set off after the boy. They are both captured by soldiers from Kutná Hora. Miksík sacrifices himself to give Ondra a chance to flee. On the way, Ondra runs into the orphan Sulík. The two boys become friends and begin to wander together.
On Zizka's Battle Waggon
1968
4.3The dreaded Italian mafioso, Marian Labuda, will also be convinced. Mafioso Carmello was guilty of the principles of his organization when he tried to fool the boss and earned a death sentence. The convict runs away from the killer through Vienna to Prague, which his Austrian colleague in crime recommended as a safe hiding place. None of them knows that the Czechs learned so much tricks under real socialism that a seasoned Italian professional is not enough to watch.
Bulldogs and Cherries
1981
Three nine-year-old boys are ridden with guilt after chasing their classmate into a busy street, causing him to get hit by a truck.
Tragic Monday
1960
5.7After their young daughter dies suddenly from a viral infection, Marie and Petr struggle to cope with the silence and emptiness left in their apartment. The couple drifts apart as Marie sinks into deep isolation while Petr attempts to distract himself through work and social interactions. Eventually, they decide to try for another child in an effort to move forward and rebuild their fractured relationship.
Day for My Love
1977
6.8The film is essentially a feature-length commercial for an exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of the nationalisation of the Czechoslovak film industry, to be held at the Prague U Hybernu venue. The protagonists of the piece are comedians Oldrich Kaiser and Jirí Lábus, who are set to accept an award from Japanese television representatives at the exhibition. At the same time, five gangsters plot to seize a revolutionary invention devised by professor Suzuki - a super holograph, which enables any figure from television to be transported in the flesh into the real world, and vice-versa.
The Great Movie Robbery
1987
6.3Why? (Czech: Proč?) is a 1987 Czechoslovak drama film directed by Karel Smyczek. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival. The film deals with the hooliganism in Czechoslovakia, particularly with the fans of football club Sparta from Prague, whose supporters were the pioneers of the football fan riots in Czechoslovakia, starting with hooligan actions already in the 1960s, like breaking the trains in which they travelled when they went on Sparta's away games. The film deals with one of such episodes
Why?
1987
6.0An 11-year-old boy is the only survivor of a tragic car accident in which both parents are killed. It's not until he meets a travelling student theatre company that he is able to shake off the long-term shock...
Nechci nic slyšet
1978
7.5A look at the life, work and importance of Czech filmmaker Karel Zeman (1910-89), a genius of world cinema, a wizard of special effects, revealing his sources of inspiration and his revolutionary filming techniques.
Film Adventurer Karel Zeman
2015
7.1Famed outlaw Lotrando sends his son to a strict Catholic boarding school to learn manners, but the boy becomes too polite to lead the band. When they inadvertently arrive in a sultanate where the princess Zubeida lies gravely ill and are mistaken for physicians, father and son must overcome their inexperience and imposture to heal her and save the realm.
Ruffiano and Sweeteeth
1997
7.0Prague in the 1870s. Work in Smolík's sulphur factory is hard and dangerous to health. The poorly paid workers resemble torches because their clothes are soaked with poisonous phosphorus. Young Josef Rezler also works in the sulphur factory and uses his earnings to feed his mother and little sisters. He throws his perpetually drunken father out of the house. The older worker Brož forces Josef to learn to read and write. A cholera epidemic breaks out in Prague and Josef is the only one of his family to survive the disease...
Pochodně
1961
5.6Honza Pavelka (Jan Hrusínský) wins the junior motorbike speed races. His thirteen-year-old brother Martin (Roman Cada), his assistant and biggest fan, answers the questions of his schoolfriend Pavlína in a superior tone. Student Zuzana (Libuse Safránková), who gave her scarf to Honza to wear around his neck for the races as a talisman is Honza's girlfriend. He met her when he came to her parent's home to repair the TV set. Honza declines an invitation to celebration with his friends. He goes off with Zuzana instead, but she refuses his intimate advances. The offended young man, who is about to serve his two years in the army, tries to blackmail her emotionally and the couple breaks up. Martin tries various schemes to bring them together again.
My Brother Has a Cute Brother
1975
7.5Inspired by the activities of counter-intelligence officers, Jan Prokop plays chess at every opportunity. In addition, he works with his team to uncover a resident network that attempts to recruit domestic experts to work abroad.
Druhý tah pěšcem
1985
7.0In the Prague Old Town and the adjoining streets there is always plenty of life. Housewives shop, beggars arouse sympathy, the Salvation Army tries to put the godless on the road to salvation by hymns and sermons, and Ferdys Pistora hunts in the pockets of his fellow men and isn't even put off by the presence of an officer of the law. Ferdys sets off to burgle villa of the banker Rosenstok, but a fire breaks out in the house and Ferdys ends up saving the banker's two small children. For this he is celebrated as a hero and gets a place as an errand boy with the Rosenstoks. At home he is visited by representatives of the Salvation Army, Captain Kosterka and Terezka, with whom Ferdys instantly falls in love.
Svatá hříšnice
1970
6.7The series of children's films about Detective Martin, who intervenes in cases involving children, begins with this film. It consists of two short stories: in the first ("Three Bottles"), the young hero, escaping from an orphanage, gets involved in a robbery of postage stamps..., in the second ("Flying Carousel"), the children fight a dishonest owner of fairground rides...
Volejte Martina
1966
7.5The story begins in 1984 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, few years before the end of Communist era. The band Pražský výběr (Prague's selection) has just received the news thier 5-year ban has expired and they are alowed to perform once again. This half fantasy half document about the band would draw the atmosphere of middle european late Communist era and the eufory of it's end.
Pražákům, těm je hej
1991
6.3A children's adventure spy film from a time when the radio telephone was science fiction.
Zpívající pudřenka
1960
7.1A poetic film about a dove getting lost on its way to Prague getting shot down by a paralyzed boy. An artist who finds the dove becomes friends with the boy. Together they take care of it bringing it back to recovery.
The White Dove
1960
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Útěk ze seriálu
1989
Behind the camera
6.0A quarter century after the release of the original film, this sequel brings us a drama about platonic love, life retrospective and memories. Former schoolmates meet again in the mountains and it turns out they have not changed much. Even though so many years have passed, we can still see the souls of boys and girls we know from the teenage comedy Snowdrops and Aces; kids who participated in that legendary skiing course. Its nostalgic humour gives the film a bitter-sweet touch. Thawing Out follows the lives of the main heroes during a period of great changes. How did they manage to escape the traps and what scars have they suffered? Where did they want to go, how far have they got and what is still in front of them?
Snowdrops and Aces
1983
6.3Why? (Czech: Proč?) is a 1987 Czechoslovak drama film directed by Karel Smyczek. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival. The film deals with the hooliganism in Czechoslovakia, particularly with the fans of football club Sparta from Prague, whose supporters were the pioneers of the football fan riots in Czechoslovakia, starting with hooligan actions already in the 1960s, like breaking the trains in which they travelled when they went on Sparta's away games. The film deals with one of such episodes
Why?
1987
6.3Why? (Czech: Proč?) is a 1987 Czechoslovak drama film directed by Karel Smyczek. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival. The film deals with the hooliganism in Czechoslovakia, particularly with the fans of football club Sparta from Prague, whose supporters were the pioneers of the football fan riots in Czechoslovakia, starting with hooligan actions already in the 1960s, like breaking the trains in which they travelled when they went on Sparta's away games. The film deals with one of such episodes
Why?
1987
No synopsis available yet.
Pánská jízda
1983
An unconventional portrait of Emma Srncová, a painter, artist and occasional actress.
Emma in the Sky
2023
7.1Famed outlaw Lotrando sends his son to a strict Catholic boarding school to learn manners, but the boy becomes too polite to lead the band. When they inadvertently arrive in a sultanate where the princess Zubeida lies gravely ill and are mistaken for physicians, father and son must overcome their inexperience and imposture to heal her and save the realm.
Ruffiano and Sweeteeth
1997
Based on Ota Pavel’s collection, the film is set in Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia. In a small village, Leo Popper’s pond is taken away because of his Jewish origin, not knowing the worst is yet to come.
Carps for Wehrmacht
—
8.5Several big-city teenagers are falsely accused of vandalizing a valuable organ, casting light on the hypocrisy of the adult world.
Just Whistle a Little
1981
8.5Several big-city teenagers are falsely accused of vandalizing a valuable organ, casting light on the hypocrisy of the adult world.
Just Whistle a Little
1981
7.5The story begins in 1984 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, few years before the end of Communist era. The band Pražský výběr (Prague's selection) has just received the news thier 5-year ban has expired and they are alowed to perform once again. This half fantasy half document about the band would draw the atmosphere of middle european late Communist era and the eufory of it's end.
Pražákům, těm je hej
1991
7.5The story begins in 1984 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, few years before the end of Communist era. The band Pražský výběr (Prague's selection) has just received the news thier 5-year ban has expired and they are alowed to perform once again. This half fantasy half document about the band would draw the atmosphere of middle european late Communist era and the eufory of it's end.
Pražákům, těm je hej
1991
No synopsis available yet.
Záhada zlatého servisu
1989
5.0A story of two boys who during the summer at a recreation area become best friends despite being enemies at first.
Like Rabbits
1982
7.5The fate of an unlucky director of a dismantled cultural house who temporarily believes in the meaningfulness of his actions, exposed to the pressure of many different difficulties.
Nemocný bílý slon
1990
7.5The fate of an unlucky director of a dismantled cultural house who temporarily believes in the meaningfulness of his actions, exposed to the pressure of many different difficulties.
Nemocný bílý slon
1990
No synopsis available yet.
Bumerang
1987
8.0People can be addicted to things, like high-calorie food. But the struggle against overweight and overeating is often futile, so the unfortunates have no choice but to lose weight under the guidance of experts - and they don't mind that the conditions in the sanatorium in question are quite oppressive and humiliating. Although, with a lot of good will, one could detect some metaphorical elements, the bitter comedy, reveling in naive stylisation, ultimately wants to be nothing more than an entertaining piece of work.
Sedm hladových
1988
8.0People can be addicted to things, like high-calorie food. But the struggle against overweight and overeating is often futile, so the unfortunates have no choice but to lose weight under the guidance of experts - and they don't mind that the conditions in the sanatorium in question are quite oppressive and humiliating. Although, with a lot of good will, one could detect some metaphorical elements, the bitter comedy, reveling in naive stylisation, ultimately wants to be nothing more than an entertaining piece of work.
Sedm hladových
1988
No synopsis available yet.
Kocourkov
1992
6.5A sensitively told story about the first hopes of love and harsh disappointments, about tender and impenetrable girls, but also about those who are characterized by ruthlessness, takes place at a girls' boarding school...
Housata
1980
6.5A sensitively told story about the first hopes of love and harsh disappointments, about tender and impenetrable girls, but also about those who are characterized by ruthlessness, takes place at a girls' boarding school...
Housata
1980
The new television adaptation of Jan Otčenášek's famous novella of the same name tells the story of the love between a teenage boy and a Jewish girl in the midst of war during the Heydrich terror. Ester seeks refuge, which Vojta provides her with, knowing the risk to his life. From this moment on, the situation of the protagonists of the story becomes a kind of existential island where fundamental human values—love, death, loyalty, and betrayal—are tested. This experience marks the main character of the story for life. This intimate drama, directed by Karel Smyczek with remarkable artistic means, is effective in its urgency and has timeless validity. The screenplay is the work of experienced author Petr Zikmund.
Romeo, Juliet and Darkness
1998
5.5The story of a music academy student Zdenek, who meets a charming girl, and without realizing also gets a son with her. Dealing with such a situation is not easy, especially when one day the child's mother disappears. Twenty year old Zdenek faces a serious decision. Although he is aware that a child may endanger his studies and perhaps even future career, he refuses to entrust him to the care of the state institution.
Landscape with Furniture
1987
No synopsis available yet.
Šperk
1975