Juraj Herz

An epic exploration of the Czechoslovak New Wave cinema of the 1960s and 70s, structured around a series of conversations with one of its most acclaimed exponents - Closely Observed Trains director Jiří Menzel.

One of the best Czech composers of film soundtracks is often described as a genius of film scores. He was not afraid to experiment and the timelessness of his work is proven by the admiration of the world, including the generation who came to know his music only after his death.

The filmmakers revisit some of the shooting locations of THE CREMATOR with director Juraj Herz and chronicles the making of the 1969 film.

La vida de August Habermann, un alemán propietario de un molino en la zona montañosa de los Sudetes, y su familia cambia drásticamente en 1938, cuando Europa entra en guerra. Cuando los militares alemanes llegan a la zona, los habitantes de origen checo se convierten en ciudadanos de segunda.

A man leaves his busy city life for the peace of the country home where he spent his early childhood. His new life is soon disturbed by strange events.

Michail Forman, a successful business manager, gets stuck in a traffic jam. The weather is lousy, his car breaks down and he forgot to buy a present for his 5th wedding anniversary. He jumps out of his car and finds some shelter in the entrance of a shopping mall. Attracted by a little girl he enters the mall, but once he's in, time and reality are no longer something to rely on.

The Emperor of a European country demands new clothes to wear every day, in fact sometimes several times a day. He imposes a heavy tax on the poor citizens to pay for his vanity. An itinerant man and boy come to the capital city and see the injustice, and make friends, but they soon have to flee. They return disguised as Arab tailors, and offer to make the Emperor a new suit of clothes. But only the wise will be able to see it; fools, or those unfit for their public office, will not see anything. The Emperor orders the suit made, and much money is needed to purchase the raw materials. Eventually the suit is ready, and the Emperor and his officials pretend that they can see a wonderful outfit; will anyone prick the bubble of the illusion?

The Emperor of a European country demands new clothes to wear every day, in fact sometimes several times a day. He imposes a heavy tax on the poor citizens to pay for his vanity. An itinerant man and boy come to the capital city and see the injustice, and make friends, but they soon have to flee. They return disguised as Arab tailors, and offer to make the Emperor a new suit of clothes. But only the wise will be able to see it; fools, or those unfit for their public office, will not see anything. The Emperor orders the suit made, and much money is needed to purchase the raw materials. Eventually the suit is ready, and the Emperor and his officials pretend that they can see a wonderful outfit; will anyone prick the bubble of the illusion?

Feature film.

Feature film.

Feature film.

When a young princess, instead of being fully dedicated to her love, persists in running around like a tomboy and roaming the forests with her gang, and a young prince refuses to give up all his vices and mischief, an aquaphobic fairy takes their fate into her hands. The princess then falls in love with the prince, who declares eternal fidelity to her. When he however breaks this promise, the fairy turns him into a frog. With which the loyalty of the princess is being tested as well.

Esta producción escrita por Zdenek Mahler y dirigida por el gran cineasta Juraj Herz, es interpretada por el niño prodigio del violín y el piano Jakub Trasak y por el joven actor austriaco Alexander Lutz. Filmada en ciudades como Salzburgo, Viena y Praga, entre otras más de 70 localizaciones, con más de 3.500 extras en donde se utilizaron más de 750 trajes y dónde la música fue interpretada con instrumentos históricos bajo la interpretación de la "Orquesta Académica de Viena".

A communist journalist from Prague is sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp.

A communist journalist from Prague is sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp.

A communist journalist from Prague is sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp.

A comedy about Simon, an honest, clever confectioner. In practical life, the humble bachelor becomes an easy prey to his boss, his mother, and hordes of women eager to get married. The story incorporates well-tested methods of nearly all major periods in the history of film comedy: from a lumierish etude with the garden hose to a melancholic tramp to the menace of the streets Jacques Tati. Director Juraj Herz made a major contribution to the modest tradition of Slovak film comedy.

A doctor is shocked when his beloved colleague Mima signs a contract with foreign car manufacturer Ferat, in order to work for them as a rally-driver. A scientist convinces him that human blood is being used as fuel for Mima's ever winning car, but does that really work?

A doctor is shocked when his beloved colleague Mima signs a contract with foreign car manufacturer Ferat, in order to work for them as a rally-driver. A scientist convinces him that human blood is being used as fuel for Mima's ever winning car, but does that really work?

A doctor is shocked when his beloved colleague Mima signs a contract with foreign car manufacturer Ferat, in order to work for them as a rally-driver. A scientist convinces him that human blood is being used as fuel for Mima's ever winning car, but does that really work?

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

A divorced single mother romances a young slaughterhouse worker, must to the chagrin of her ex-husband.

A divorced single mother romances a young slaughterhouse worker, must to the chagrin of her ex-husband.

A divorced single mother romances a young slaughterhouse worker, must to the chagrin of her ex-husband.

Martin, a poor student, volunteers to go on a quest to find a cure for the princess Adriana, who is stricken with a strange illness. Unknown to Martin or anyone else, the princess is actually under the spell of the powerful magician Andlobrandini, who is preparing a rejuvenating elixir made from the blood of nine men's hearts.

Martin, a poor student, volunteers to go on a quest to find a cure for the princess Adriana, who is stricken with a strange illness. Unknown to Martin or anyone else, the princess is actually under the spell of the powerful magician Andlobrandini, who is preparing a rejuvenating elixir made from the blood of nine men's hearts.

Martin, a poor student, volunteers to go on a quest to find a cure for the princess Adriana, who is stricken with a strange illness. Unknown to Martin or anyone else, the princess is actually under the spell of the powerful magician Andlobrandini, who is preparing a rejuvenating elixir made from the blood of nine men's hearts.

Una de las tres hijas de un mercader, se adentra en el bosque buscando ayuda para su padre enfermo, hasta que es raptada por una bestia que sufre una maldición. La bestia, cautivada por la belleza de la joven, decide retenerla en su castillo pero no atacarla. La chica, ayudará a la bestia a vencer la maldición

Una de las tres hijas de un mercader, se adentra en el bosque buscando ayuda para su padre enfermo, hasta que es raptada por una bestia que sufre una maldición. La bestia, cautivada por la belleza de la joven, decide retenerla en su castillo pero no atacarla. La chica, ayudará a la bestia a vencer la maldición

The heroes of this absurd comedy, full of confusion and humor are Dzharda Zemanek and Frantisek Liska.

The sore and tender hearts of a young couple with a toddler are explored in this drama. The little girl, four years old, is not aware that she is doing anything distressing while she ambles about the house on the day after a post-examination celebration by her father, a university student. Even though hung over, he tries hard to be patient with her. The beginning of the story follows her on her little adventures. The girl comes down with a fever, which kills her before anything can be done, and the student and his photographer wife mourn and comfort one another. Little encounters with children cause the mother pain she is seldom free of, until she gives birth to their next child, a son.

A funny outlaw tale inspired by traditional folk humour. Pacho is no ordinary outlaw. He detests injustice and feudal oppression and he copes with each troublesome situation with the help of his cleverness and wit.

The waitress Gita from the hotel "Bobí vrch" approaches her lover who has not left his wife yet and gives him an ultimatum: if he does not do all according to her wish, she will announce to the police his machinations with foreign currency.

The waitress Gita from the hotel "Bobí vrch" approaches her lover who has not left his wife yet and gives him an ultimatum: if he does not do all according to her wish, she will announce to the police his machinations with foreign currency.

The fifteen year old Maruska (Lenka Korínková) starts as a new staff in the porcelain warehouse. For the boss Svetla (Míla Myslíková) it is the last straw. She asked to extend her staff consisting of four girls and a retired lady by a man, not a child. The kind and ever fussy Svetla, battling in vain with overweight decides to leave her position and to take another one in the office. As soon as she finds out that the position will be taken by Arnost Jarolím (Josef Langmiler), she insists on a hand over inventory.

Jealous of her vapidly "good" sister's popularity, poisonous Viktoria doses pretty Klara's tea with a slow-acting fatal substance. As the latter grows hysterically weak, the former finds success increasingly compromised by guilt, blackmail, and the pesky need to kill others lest she be exposed.

Jealous of her vapidly "good" sister's popularity, poisonous Viktoria doses pretty Klara's tea with a slow-acting fatal substance. As the latter grows hysterically weak, the former finds success increasingly compromised by guilt, blackmail, and the pesky need to kill others lest she be exposed.

Sherlock Holmes likes to play violin and expects a great career in music. He gets a place in a spa orchestra, but he is again and again distracted by criminal cases. Therefore he is the only one who does not see that his violin has no future. He solves the criminal mysteries in passing but the final test shows that the famous detective is tone-deaf.

A romantic story of a young nobleman who sees a beautiful girl at the carnival who seems familiar to him. He feels that he saw her in an old castle, where only the old countess and sister live. It is precisely in their salon in the city that she meets the girl again and learns her history

A romantic story of a young nobleman who sees a beautiful girl at the carnival who seems familiar to him. He feels that he saw her in an old castle, where only the old countess and sister live. It is precisely in their salon in the city that she meets the girl again and learns her history

In 1900, Stepha, the vivacious 30 year old daughter of a wealthy couple, agrees to marry her cousin Paul, who has accumulated large debts as an Austrian army officer. Paul refuses to work or to consummate the marriage, and then his health steadily declines.

In 1900, Stepha, the vivacious 30 year old daughter of a wealthy couple, agrees to marry her cousin Paul, who has accumulated large debts as an Austrian army officer. Paul refuses to work or to consummate the marriage, and then his health steadily declines.

Impressionistic film based on a Maupassant story about five friends who fall in love with the same beautiful girl one summer.

Impressionistic film based on a Maupassant story about five friends who fall in love with the same beautiful girl one summer.

A horror film set in and around an opulent theater, featuring vampirism, ghosts, romance, and music.

A horror film set in and around an opulent theater, featuring vampirism, ghosts, romance, and music.

El señor Karel domina a sus familiares, amigos y empleados. Sólo está preocupado porque el tránsito de los difuntos hacia el más allá sea lo más limpio y rápido posible, todo mediante la incineración de cadáveres en el cementerio que regenta. (FILMAFFINITY)

El señor Karel domina a sus familiares, amigos y empleados. Sólo está preocupado porque el tránsito de los difuntos hacia el más allá sea lo más limpio y rápido posible, todo mediante la incineración de cadáveres en el cementerio que regenta. (FILMAFFINITY)

A baleful limping man walks through Prague. He is Asmodeus (Juraj Herz), the fiend of lustfulness, entertaining himself by putting together by magic couples of lovers. He only fails at the swimming pool. Zuzana (Jana Sulcová), the good-looking blonde, ignores the men whom the devil foists off onto her. She loves Honza (Václav Neckár) and the boy shares her feelings. The fiend is annoyed by the couple and tries to provoke a row. He sends heavy rain to force them into a hotel and then warns Zuzana's father by phone, but the young lovers manage to get out in time. Then the obstinate Asmodeus takes Honza in his sleep to the Institute for Emotional Disorders, where he shows him the ugly sides of love - hysteria, voyeurism, fetishism, suicide attempts...

A baleful limping man walks through Prague. He is Asmodeus (Juraj Herz), the fiend of lustfulness, entertaining himself by putting together by magic couples of lovers. He only fails at the swimming pool. Zuzana (Jana Sulcová), the good-looking blonde, ignores the men whom the devil foists off onto her. She loves Honza (Václav Neckár) and the boy shares her feelings. The fiend is annoyed by the couple and tries to provoke a row. He sends heavy rain to force them into a hotel and then warns Zuzana's father by phone, but the young lovers manage to get out in time. Then the obstinate Asmodeus takes Honza in his sleep to the Institute for Emotional Disorders, where he shows him the ugly sides of love - hysteria, voyeurism, fetishism, suicide attempts...

A baleful limping man walks through Prague. He is Asmodeus (Juraj Herz), the fiend of lustfulness, entertaining himself by putting together by magic couples of lovers. He only fails at the swimming pool. Zuzana (Jana Sulcová), the good-looking blonde, ignores the men whom the devil foists off onto her. She loves Honza (Václav Neckár) and the boy shares her feelings. The fiend is annoyed by the couple and tries to provoke a row. He sends heavy rain to force them into a hotel and then warns Zuzana's father by phone, but the young lovers manage to get out in time. Then the obstinate Asmodeus takes Honza in his sleep to the Institute for Emotional Disorders, where he shows him the ugly sides of love - hysteria, voyeurism, fetishism, suicide attempts...

A nondescript man is trapped in a sinister flat, where nothing seems to obey the laws of nature.

A murder in a hospital run by incompetents.

A murder in a hospital run by incompetents.

This three-part Austrian/Czech comedy stretches the boundaries of what is considered to be humorous. Part one finds a silent film actor upset because of a rival actor's attention to the former's wife. When he kills his rival, it is only when he is strapped to the electric chair that he realizes that this is his last live scene. The second episode has the wife of an elderly British nobleman having an affair with the young gamekeeper of their estate. Part three finds a peasant woman taking a lover when her husband goes off to fight the war.

Juraj Herz adapts Bohumil Hrabal's story about a man who works in a junk shop.

Juraj Herz adapts Bohumil Hrabal's story about a man who works in a junk shop.

Anton Brtko es un humilde carpintero que trata de vivir con placidez en una pequeña ciudad eslovaca durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Aunque observa con ironía y desprecio a los seguidores nazis que tratan de imponer su disciplina sobre la comunidad, la presión de su esposa Evelyn y su cuñado Markus, un caudillo fascista local, no deja de poner trabas a su tranquilidad. Cuando Markus le ofrece hacerse cargo, en calidad de ario, de la mercería de la anciana Sra. Lautmann, su vida queda trastocada. Mientras Evelyn se ilusiona con la idea de enriquecerse, Tono intenta hacer entender a la Sra. Lautmann que queda relegada del negocio por ser judía, pero no sólo le resulta imposible a causa de la sordera de la mujer, sino que además entre ambos surge una relación de ternura y comprensión mutua. Las situaciones cómicas en la tienda se suceden mientras la fiebre antisemita se va intensificando en el exterior.

Anton Brtko es un humilde carpintero que trata de vivir con placidez en una pequeña ciudad eslovaca durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Aunque observa con ironía y desprecio a los seguidores nazis que tratan de imponer su disciplina sobre la comunidad, la presión de su esposa Evelyn y su cuñado Markus, un caudillo fascista local, no deja de poner trabas a su tranquilidad. Cuando Markus le ofrece hacerse cargo, en calidad de ario, de la mercería de la anciana Sra. Lautmann, su vida queda trastocada. Mientras Evelyn se ilusiona con la idea de enriquecerse, Tono intenta hacer entender a la Sra. Lautmann que queda relegada del negocio por ser judía, pero no sólo le resulta imposible a causa de la sordera de la mujer, sino que además entre ambos surge una relación de ternura y comprensión mutua. Las situaciones cómicas en la tienda se suceden mientras la fiebre antisemita se va intensificando en el exterior.

A military base. An awkward soldier. A statue of Bach. And suddenly all guns in the area change into music instruments. Great mystery is immediately found by TV station. And soon the military base becomes a stage for huge TV show.

A satire of the Great American Way, with Lemonade Joe a "clean living" gunfighter who drinks only Kola-Loca Lemonade and convinces everyone else in town (with his gun skills) that all "real men" drink ONLY lemonade!

Managers at the construction of a big hydro plant are accused of having embezzled money.

Two magicians, Mr.Schwarzwald and Mr.Edgar, try to outdo each other in performing elaborate magic tricks, leading to a violent ending.

Czechoslovakian Zbynek Brynych directs this psychological drama set in World War II Terezin ghetto. A dark, visual portrayal of the trials and tribulations the Theresienstadt people faced on a daily basis presented in a series of memorable stories. Their hopes and dreams unfold against the perpetual threat of deportation (or worse) by the Nazis. Based on the novel "Night and Hope" by Arnost Lustig.

Czechoslovakian Zbynek Brynych directs this psychological drama set in World War II Terezin ghetto. A dark, visual portrayal of the trials and tribulations the Theresienstadt people faced on a daily basis presented in a series of memorable stories. Their hopes and dreams unfold against the perpetual threat of deportation (or worse) by the Nazis. Based on the novel "Night and Hope" by Arnost Lustig.