From Darkness to Light

Prague, Czechoslovakia, during the inter-war period. Jan Dítě, a young and clever waiter who wants to become a millionaire, comes to the conclusion that to achieve his ambitious goal he must be diligent, listen and observe as much as he can, be always discreet and use what he learns to his own advantage; but the turbulent tides of hist...

Runtime

1h 55m

Director

Jiří Menzel

Cast

Ivan Barnev, Oldřich Kaiser, Julia Jentsch

The movie's main storyline follows the life of Otík, a young man, in a tight-knit village community. The sweet-tempered Otík works as an assistant truck driver with Mr. Pávek, his older colleague and practical-minded neighbor. Pávek's family takes care of Otík, whose parents are dead. However, the two coworkers become at odds over Otík...

Runtime

1h 38m

Director

Jiří Menzel

Cast

János Bán, Marián Labuda, Zdeněk Svěrák

In post-WWII Communist Czechoslovakia, several characters considered bourgeois are sentenced to work in a junkyard for rehabilitation. Among them is a young man who pines for a female convict.

Runtime

1h 34m

Director

Jiří Menzel

Cast

Rudolf Hrušínský, Václav Neckář, Jitka Zelenohorská

Francin, manager of a small-town brewery, has a charming wife whose abundant blonde locks are an adornment to the town. Maryska looks ethereal but loves meat and beer, while Francin is an ascetic. The strict members of the brewery board of directors come to audit the accounts, but are diverted from concentrating on Francin's detailed r...

Runtime

1h 33m

Director

Jiří Menzel

Cast

Magda Vášáryová, Rudolf Hrušínský, Petr Čepek

An episodic film about the inhabitants of Kersko, their hardships and their joys, most prominently hunting. A lyrical and humorous adaptation of writings by Bohumil Hrabal.

Runtime

1h 23m

Director

Jiří Menzel

Cast

Rudolf Hrušínský, Jaromír Hanzlík, Josef Somr