Czech New Wave
CZS36
Dr. Šárka Gmiterková
Fall 2022
20. 9. 2022
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Black Peter
Czechoslovakia 1963
(Černý Petr)
dir. Miloš Forman
1. What do you make of the film‘s title?
2. How would you describe the main
protagonists – Petr, Pavla, Čenda,
father and mother? What doest the film
tell us about generational gap?
3. Why do you think this film was praised
by state and party authorities as a great
example of socialist cinema?
zápatí prezentace
Petr x Čenda
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̶ Petr not a rebel, just a regular guy
(clumsy, quiet, yet doesn‘t bend to
the ideas of the older generation)
̶ Čenda –efficient and dedicated
labourer, the film pokes a fun at
him?
̶ dynamic, loud, not smart
Two portraits of period young masculinity
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“A great example of
socialist film art“
WHY?
- Comedy
- Observation: almost no
experiments with narration, style
and/or ideological background X
absorbing international influences
and abrupt ending
- International success and visibility –
various prizes at Venice, Locarno
and Lisbon IFF
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Czech New Wave Course: Organization
̶ Study materials will be provided every week – that is reading (chapters
and articles not accesible in the MUNI library), presentations and films
(files or links)
̶ Each session will consist of a screening, followed by a discussion and a
lecture on a film/topic/artist
̶ November 1st – lecture on the slovak branch of the new wave will be
given Katarína Kunkelová (PhD candidate at FAV MUNI)
̶ Final Assesment – oral exam – students have to provide a list of 16
films, with short abstract of 250 words, summarizing the story and
highlighting any element they feel are worth discussing + summary of
two chapters/articles provided by the teacher
̶ The dates of the exam TBA
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Recommended reading
Databases, (S)VOD platforms and reading:
https://www.filmovyprehled.cz/en
https://dafilms.com/
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=česká+filmová+klasika+nfa
zápatí prezentace7
Reading: Week 1
CROWLEY, David and REID,
Susan E. (eds.): Introduction: Pleasures in
Socialism? In: Pleasures in Socialism.
Leisure and Luxury in Eastern Bloc.
Evanston IL, Northwestern University
Press, 2012, pp. 3–51.
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Postwar Czechoslovak Cultural and Social
History: A Brief Overview
̶ 1945–1948: Third republic
̶ BREAKS
̶ Nationalization of many industries, incl. cultural and media industries
̶ Cinema fell under the direct supervision of the state 11th August 1945
̶ Theatres could not be owned by a private entrepenur since June 8th 1945
̶ Strong inclination towards communist ideology and Soviet Union
̶ CONTINUITIES
̶ Culture and citizens used to a certain degree of discplination and control since the war
years (Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia)
̶ Leftist tendencies already present in the socalled First Republic era (1918–1938), although
they were a minority
̶ Strong preferences for the working class
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1948–1953: Forming the system and the first crisis
̶ 1948, February 17th–25th – the Communist putsch
̶ Starting the era of a very tight and rigid ideological control in agreement with a larger
society
̶ Important formative years of the system
̶ Top-down implementation of Soviet politics
̶ Numerous clashes between party leadership and state government
̶ working class is the new domineering social class
̶ Radical youth and female employment
̶ The „Sharp Course“ politics
̶ socialist realism is the norm
̶ revision of Czech cultural heritage
̶ cutting ties with western influences and democratic tradition
̶ since 1951 stagnation and militarization of society: preparation for
global conflict, “fight for peace”
̶ 1953 – death of Stalin and president Klement Gottwald
̶ The politics of New Course >> return of entertainment and
commercial genres (operetta, satire)
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1954–1956: Changing priorities
1957–1960: Schizofrenia of the regime
̶ the foundation of modern socialist society
̶ Changing priorities >> securing a more comfortable life standard
for Czechoslovak citizens
̶ socialist realism is not considered as a strict norm
̶ the country opens towards western influences
̶ In the second half of the decade a lot of opposing tendencies
̶ the effort to finalize the cultural and ideological revolution and getting closer to communist
utopia resulted in the tendency to weaken critical voices and renewed preference for
ideological purity
̶ X the regime was much weaker than at the beginning of the decade, bottom-up
reaction on societal changes and trends
̶ Faith in technological progress / the return to world fashion in 1957 / Czechoslovak
success at Expo Brusel 1958
̶ the ideal of a regular citizen >> no more a worker, but a middle class, cultured person
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1961–1963: Economical problems
1964–1968: Consumer socialism
̶ In the first half of the decade economical issues + global politics
crisis
̶ new generation of top level politicians (generational shift reflected
in cinema as well)
̶ the country is open to international influences (tourism,
international students)
̶ In the second half of the decade the economic situation stabilized
̶ Tolerance for western films, music, fashion, although not general (men with long hair, drug
using)
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Key elements of cultural politics and
socialist lifestyle 1948–1968
1. Democratization of culture
any citizen can participate on socialist culture, either as a consumer or as a producer
Downsides – culture was differentiated from ideological perspectives
- Luxury based on the difficulty of access: cars, electronics, fashion, food items
2. Ateistic propaganda and rationalization of life
Departure from religious traditions
New socialist citizen should be a fully formed person, acting in accordance with his or her
rationality >> easier for planning standardization and distribution
3. Against petite bourgeoisie (lower middle class)
Wide, yet flexible category