Liberated

A wild and provocative postmodern phantasmagory about love beyond the grave in a tale of romance between a decadent prince and the daughter of a disgraced officer. Made by the legendary Jan Němec after his return from exile, the film surprised many when it came out, and it continues to provoke audiences with its playful impudence and, by the standards of the day, its incomprehensibility.

Filled with quotable scenes and biting vulgarities, The Inheritance is not just a comedy; it is above all a visionary morality tale of how money changes people and society. The best work of Věra Chytilová’s post-1989 career was remarkably ahead of its time: this tale of lowly, nouveau riche Bohuš (Boleslav Polívka) predicted much of the parasitic behaviour that cropped up after the fall of communism.

With this dark comedy about two women stumbling along toward their dreams, Juraj Jakubisko concluded his loose trilogy about freedom and fortune while further exploring the subject of morality. Starring Deana Jakubisková-Horváthová as the Slovak Nona, and Dagmar Havlová as the Moravian Ester.

Ondřej Trojan’s feature debut focuses on a young counsellor at a pioneer camp who is trying to gain the attention of a beautiful nurse named Vendy in order to get his first sexual encounter under his belt. This scathing tragicomedy, which works with the absurd humour and poetic style of Prague’s renowned Sklep theatre company, is a madcap collection of various camp clichés and awkward protagonists.

Fourteen-year-old Marika finds herself in an institute for mentally ill girls, where the nurses’ cruel treatment of her slowly fuels a rage that leads to tragedy. Inspired by a true story, this psychological thriller became a symbol for the local genre dynamism of the 1990s. Anna Geislerová shines in the starring role.

When young engineer Mirek arrives at a factory in order to work on a project to reduce emissions, he is confronted by a rigid order and incompetent bosses… Dubbed a “rhythmical of the totalitarian age,” the original story plays out amidst the sulphur-laden air of Ostrava’s steel mills. The film’s creators peppered their tale with a distinctive sense of humour, troupe recitations, and a catchy saxophone leitmotif.

Timid Dana is dumped by her lover. In an attempt to make him jealous, she talks her best friend into lending Dana her boyfriend. Thus begins Dana’s transformation from hapless outsider into a manipulative femme fatale capable of anything. Winner of the Caméra d’Or Special Distinction at the 1990 Cannes fest, Time of the Servants presents an image of society just before the fall of communism that the local regime wanted banned from the big screen.