Czech New Wave History

            Czechoslovakia, originally formed in 1918, was split into Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1992. 1992? That blew my mind. The split happened during my lifetime, and yet I know nothing about it. This is actually quite scary to me. Why didn’t anyone tell me about cultures other than the USA? As I’ve grown up, I’m become more and more inquisitive about other cultures, patterns, and the reasons for demise. I intend to continue my research on the history of these two countries as I move through my films. I don’t want to get into the reason and effects of the split until I reach the issue in my screenings.

            Directed by Frantisek Vlacil in 1960, The White Dove is stated as being the “main precursor of the Czechoslovakian New Wave film movement.  Czech New Wave started in the early 1960’s and lasted until the early 1970’s. During this time period, the film industry was supported highly by the state. Unlike surrounding countries, filmmakers had no censorship on the films being created and distributed. The beginning of the end for Czech New Wave was in 1968 when the Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia and took over the capital, Prague. The reason for this takeover was because the Soviets decided that Czechoslovakia was becoming too westernized and way too political. The invasion is known as “Prague Spring” and imposed the strongest social and political regulations since the Stalin era. One of the most interesting yet chilling facts that I found during this research was the process called “Normalization”. This was when “Russia was disturbed by the country’s liberal direction and worried it might turn west, so they led the Warsaw Pact countries in an invasion of Czechoslovakia leading to harsh reversals of the reformist measures.”

            First off, just the term “Normalization” as a process is very creepy because of the sheer fact that a “normal” lifestyle is just so subjective. Secondly, the idea that these artists were heading a movement to call self-awareness of the citizens of this country is amazing to me. This leads me into presenting the written objective of Czech New Wave. The goal of this movement is as stated, “to make the Czech people collectively aware that they were participants in a system of oppression and incompetence which had brutalized them all.” Knowing this objective before starting my screenings has helped me to view the films as a citizen of Czech at the time rather than going in without any perspective. It really helps in understanding the WHY of the films as well as the symbolism that is laced through out. I absolutely love this motto for a film movement and would like to continue research through out other countries’ film movement to see how they relate or differ.