The Medal

The Medal 1980

6.70

The trenches of World War I provide for a captivating backdrop to the drama of Corporal Hoferik. In his devotion to the Habsburg Monarchy, he fanatically carries out his military orders, but he ultimately suffers the Empire's disfavor.

1980

The Millennial Bee

The Millennial Bee 1984

6.30

A family saga taking place mostly in a small Slovak village over a period of thirty years (1887–1917). The first part captures the life of Martin Pichandu in the development of his craft, masonry; in the second part, his son is center stage living in a period of socio-political crisis, which ultimately results in the first World War. After originally airing on Czechoslovakian television in 1983 as a four-part 226-minute mini-series, this production received a 163-minute theatrical release in 1984.

1984

Pacho, the Brigand of Hybe

Pacho, the Brigand of Hybe 1976

7.20

A funny outlaw tale inspired by traditional folk humour. Pacho is no ordinary outlaw. He detests injustice and feudal oppression and he copes with each troublesome situation with the help of his cleverness and wit.

1976

The Feather Fairy

The Feather Fairy 1985

6.90

A fairy-tale about an old lady who takes care of snow and Jakub who does not fear death. It reflects the idea of people's longing for happiness, love and understanding, their effort to overcome troubles and win over death. It criticizes greed and evil desires.

1985

Pictures of the Old World

Pictures of the Old World 1972

8.10

A raw and telling portrait of a people left behind by the modern world, inspired by the work of photographer Martin Martinček - whose pictures of the inhabitants of the Liptov region in central Slovakia, encompassed by the Tatra mountains, distilled entire lifetimes into luminous and intransient images. Dušan Hanák's continuation of these photographs takes the shape of a poetic visual essay, capturing more comprehensive vignettes of their isolate human experiences.

1972

Don't Be Afraid

Don't Be Afraid 1989

8.00

Woodcutter Ondra, who for his bold nature is called Nebojsa. He goes into the world to learn fear. During his journey, on which he is accompanied by a cowardly thief Ferka, he can deal with a bunch of bandits, vicious mill, fiery rock and eventually he must confront the evil wizard who swore a beautiful princess. Will Ondra do all his courage and ingenuity to liberate Princess?

1989

Build a House, Plant a Tree

Build a House, Plant a Tree 1980

5.10

Juraj Jakubisko's first feature film after a forced nine-year-long break is a story about an unconventional man, Jozef Matúš. He arrives to a small village in eastern Slovakia to settle down and start a family. He is ready to subordinate everything to his goal. It all starts with stealing building material and ends with him disregarding those close to him to a point where his ambitions are turning against him. Build a House, Plant a Tree is a viewer-friendly film with a plot resembling a western, including several attractive action sequences.

1980

Lev Tolstoy

Lev Tolstoy 1984

4.20

The film consists of two parts: “Insomnia” and “Departure”. We shall meet Lev Tolstoy in the final years of his life at Yasnaya Polyana. We shall see him surrounded by his family, friends, acquaintances and absolute strangers who were coming to the great man and artist from all over the world. We shall hear “the voice of his thoughts”. In his sleepless nights, we shall follow his memory of the happy youthful years and the crucial, hard ones. We shall witness Tolstoy’s tragic departure from Yasnaya Polyana and his death at an obscure little station of Astapovo.

1984

Mr. Blot in Space

Mr. Blot in Space 1988

5.50

It's Christmas, and children at an orphanage in Maliszewo receive a computer that was given to them by another orphan who used to live there many years ago. During the night, the computer awakes itself and tells the children a story that will happen in 25 years...

1988

She Kept Asking for the Moon

She Kept Asking for the Moon 1983

7.00

Johanka had a fling with a well digger she had not met before and who, she was most likely certain, would never be around again. Just before his departure, they have sex and she eventually becomes single mother of a baby girl. Now, 18 years later, her daughter Paulina commutes by bus to work in the nearby city, which gives the village gossips the occasional opportunity to remind her of her unknown father. A resultant conflict with her mother makes Paulina take up residence in the city. Johanka, prodded by her also-single friend Jozefka who maintains that a woman without a man is nothing, begins to woo the new teacher Jarek only to discover later that he is married. Paulina, in the meantime, loses her virginity to the soldier Jirka who promptly makes himself scarce. Johanka fails to consider that she actually has a better life than some of her married neighbors, begins to see.

1983

Commuters

Commuters 1988

4.30

Occupied by family problems, a 13 year old Vojto takes every responsibility around the house. One day while on a train to school, he sees this girl, Kajka, and falls madly in love with her. Despite his busy life, he decides to win her heart by any means possible.

1988