Věra Chytilová

Režisér, Scénárista, Herec

2. února 1929 — 12. března 2014 (85 let)
Věra Chytilová was an avant-garde Czech film director and pioneer of Czech cinema.

At the age of 28 she was accepted into the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU). While attending FAMU she studied underneath renowned film director Otakar Vavra, graduating in 1962.

Chytilová is best known for her once highly controversial film Sedmikrásky (Daisies) – (1966). Daisies is known for its un-sympathetic characters, lack of a continuous narrative and abrupt visual style. Chytilová states that she structured Daisies to “restrict [the spectator’s] feeling of involvement and lead him to an understanding of the underlying idea or philosophy”. The film was banned within Czechoslovakia upon its initial release in 1966 until 1967, but in 1966 the film won the Grand Prix at the Bergamo Film Festival in Italy.

After Daisies the government made it very difficult for Chytilová to find work within Czechoslovakia, even though she was never officially classified as a 'blacklisted' director. After the Soviet Union invasion in 1968 it was virtually impossible for her to find work and she resorted to directing commercials under her husband’s name, Jaroslav Kučera.

In 1976, due to the low cinema attendance she was approached by the government to begin directing films through a state-run production company. At the same time the United States was assembling a 'Year of Women' Film Festival and contacted Chytilová to gain permission to screen Daisies as their opening film. She informed the festival that the only non-censored prints of the film could be found in Paris and Brussels, and that her government would not allow her to attend the festival, nor were they allowing her to direct films. The festival then began to apply international pressure upon the Czechoslovakian government by petitioning on Chytilová’s behalf. In accordance with this international pressure Chytilová wrote a letter directly to President Gustáv Husák. Due to the success of the international pressure, and Chytilová’s personal appeal to President Husak, Chytilová began production of Hra o jablko (The Apple Game, 1976). The Apple Game was completed and then was screened at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, and won the Silver Hugo and the Chicago International Film Festival.

Chytilová described herself as a control freak and was known as being actively critical of the Soviet Union, stating that “My critique is in the context of the moral principles you preach, isn’t it? A critical reflection is necessary”. She would routinely cause havoc to make films that were loyal to her vision regardless of the heavy censorship that was routinely imposed. Věra Chytilová’s last film was released in 2006, and she has taught directing at FAMU.

Chytilová embodied a unique cinematographic language and style that does not rely on any literary or verbal conventions, but rather utilizes various forms of visual manipulations to create meaning within her films. Chytilová used observations of everyday life in accordance with allegories and surreal contexts to create a personalized film style that is greatly influenced by the French New Wave, and Italian neorealism.

Známý pro

  • Sedmikrásky
    Sedmikrásky1966
  • Dědictví aneb Kurvahošigutntag
    Dědictví aneb Kurvahošigutntag1992
  • Ovoce stromů rajských jíme
    Ovoce stromů rajských jíme1970
  • O Něčem Jiném
    O Něčem Jiném1963
  • Pasti, pasti, pastičky
    Pasti, pasti, pastičky1998
  • Vlčí bouda
    Vlčí bouda1987
  • Panelstory aneb Jak se rodí sídliště
    Panelstory aneb Jak se rodí sídliště1981
  • Kalamita
    Kalamita1982
  • Hra o jablko
    Hra o jablko1977
  • Pytel blech
    Pytel blech1962
  • Vyhnání z ráje
    Vyhnání z ráje2001
  • Perličky na dně
    Perličky na dně1966
  • Strop
    Strop1962
  • Pátrání po Ester
    Pátrání po Ester2005
  • Chytilová versus Forman
    Chytilová versus Forman1982
  • Kamarádi
    Kamarádi1971

Filmografie

2006
2001
Expulsion from Paradise · as Screenplay
1995
1992
1989
A Hoof Here, a Hoof There · as Screenplay
1987
Wolf's Hole · as Screenplay
1983
1982
Calamity · as Screenplay
1980
1977
Hra o jablko · as Screenplay
1971
Kamarádi · as Screenplay
1970
Fruit of Paradise · as Screenplay
1966
Daisies · as Screenplay
1965
Pearls of the Deep · as Screenplay
1962

1983
1962
Ceiling · as Model (voice)
1952
The Emperor and the Golem · as First Handmaiden

2018
2016
2008
2005
Pátrání po Ester · as Herself
2004
2004
Cesta · as Herself
1991
Movie Days · as Self - Interviewee
1982
1970
Pravda · as Self (uncredited)

1998
Traps · as Story
1990
TGM the Liberator · as Story
1988
Sasek a královna · as Story
1984
1963
1962
Ceiling · as Story