15 December 1931, Elbančice – 14 December 1988, Prague
Prominent Czech film, TV and theatre director and scriptwriter of international repute. One of the most significant figures of the New Wave. Because of his innovative approach to film and theatre he was labelled “philosopher of the Czech New Wave”.
After studying directing at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) in 1962 Evald Schorm worked at first in the Studio of Documentary Film, where his long collaboration with the cameraman Jan Špáta began. Their best documentaries include the short films Earth to Earth (Země zemi, 1962) and To Live Your Life (Žít svůj život, 1963) about the photographer Josef Sudek, and Reflection (Zrcadlení, 1965). Schorm gradually moved from documentaries and short films towards feature films. He created most of these between 1965 and 1969, but most of his films were censored and were banned until as late as 1990. The psychological films Courage for Every Day (Každý den odvahu, 1964), Return of the Prodigal Son (Návrat ztraceného syna, 1966) and the adaptation of Josef Škvorecký‘s novel The End of a Priest (Farářův konec, 1968) brought him international repute. After the parable The Seventh Day, the Eighth Night (Den sedmý, osmá noc, 1969), inspired by the Soviet invasion in the August of 1968, he was banned from making any films, which made him focus on theatre directing. He worked in Prague’s Theatre on the Balustrade, The Drama Club, Semafor and Studio Ypsilon, but also in opera and in a number of theatres outside Prague. In 1974 he became director in the theatre Laterna magika, in which he masterfully combined theatrical and film devices. From 1982 he also collaborated with the drama ensemble of the National Theatre. One of his best stage productions was the adaptation of The Brothers Karamazov in Theatre on the Balustrade (TV recording was made in 1981).
Evald Schorm’s films are characterised by a unique capturing of individuals’ mental states and of social changes. It is heavily existentialist and clearly influenced by Franz Kafka’s works. As a theatre director, Schorm applied to actors a film approach to body movements and the visual appearance of the stage, educating thus an exceptional generation of actors. The Prague theatre Evald was named after Schorm. In 1992 he was posthumously awarded the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk for his lifetime contribution to film and theatre.
Era connected with the beginnings of Czech cinematography, the first three decades of original Czech film production. At the time, film was limited to mere visual recording, without spoken language. Bohemia was the sixth country in the world in which original silent films were made.
Distinguished theatre and film director, screenwriter, dramatist, actor and teacher. One of the co-founders and prominent figures of the Jára Cimrman Theatre.
Film, theatre and radio actor and dubber. Actor with masterful artistic expression, an acknowledged figure of Czech film and theatre of the second half of the 20th century.
Renowned theatre, film and radio actor known from Czech comedies. Screenwriter, popular entertainer and narrator of unforgettable stories.
Czech explorer, adventurer, ethnographer, writer and documentarist, the honorary chief of the Kickapoo tribe.
Prominent Czech director, producer and screenwriter. One of the most distinguished and successful Czech film directors active after 1989, who is also internationally recognised and has received a number of foreign awards.
Distinguished Czech film screenwriter, dramatist, actor, writer and songwriter. One of the founders and main representatives of the Jára Cimrman Theatre, as well as a foremost Czech cimrmanologist.
Prominent theatre, film and television actress. One of the most popular representatives of fairy-tale princesses.
Cinematographer, director and pedagogue, one of the most distinguished Czech documentary film makers. He had a major impact on Czech auteur documentary film and is regarded as a classic in the genre.
Film director, animator and artist, a leading figure of late Czech Surrealism in film and art. He is one of the best animators in the world and one of the most acknowledged Czech film makers abroad.
Film, theatre, television and radio actress, reciter. Known primarily as a typical female protagonist in Normalisation series of Czechoslovak Television.
A fairy tale film beloved by children and adults, famous abroad as well. One of the most beautiful and successful Czech fairy tale films and an essential part of Czech Christmas television programme.
Prominent animated film studio, closely connected with the so-called Czech school of animated film. It is the oldest and largest Czech studio of its kind and its works have been highly acclaimed internationally.
Director, animator, fine artist, puppeteer. World-famous master of puppet film animation, one of the founders and foremost figures of Czech animated and puppet film.
Prominent theatre, film, television and radio actor, voice actor and screenwriter. One of the most sought-after and highly-acclaimed contemporary Czech actors.
Film and theatre director, screenwriter, author of popular Czech fairy tales and rural comedies with typically popular humour. He has received the anti-award Plush Lion for worst film of the year twice.
Director, screenwriter, pedagogue and film producer. She belongs to the world elite of documentary film making. Her work mostly deals with interpersonal relationships, social problems and the position of women in society.
Czech pianist, singer, comedian and most of all composer of popular and film music. Every child knows his songs, many of which have become a part of Czech culture and school curricula.
2016-2020 ABCzech.cz - © Filozofická fakulta Univerzity Karlovy
Content from this website may be used without permission only for personal and non-commercial purposes and with the source cited. Any other use is allowed only with the authors' consent.
This web application Sonic.cgi meets GDPR requirements. Current information can be found here.
