Czech Film and the Prague Spring – film series at the Getty Center – Los Angeles film review

The Getty is presenting a film series, Czech Film and the Prague Spring, on Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7, at the Getty Center.

This event is FREE (reservations required).

Feminism, parody, confrontation, bohemian culture, Soviet invasion, and doses of anarchy and surrealism will all be on display in conjunction with the exhibition Josef Koudelka: Nationality Doubtful. This Getty film series will highlight the radical Czech New Wave cinema that sprung around the Prague Spring of 1968. All of the films selected for the series were born of dissent and subsequently banned for decades by the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia, but their power and lingering influence today goes beyond their fight against censorship. Through their incredibly varied experimental approach, these films serve as a reminder that truth to power can be expressed in more ways than one.

Czech Film and the Prague Spring is a film series that surveys revolution itself, both historical and artistic, and presents the rare occasion to view the following:

The Ear (1970);

Oratorio For Prague (1968);

A Report on the Party and Its Guests (1966);

The Joke (1969);

and Daisies (1966) – the latter of which is particularly noteworthy— a dazzling treat and feminist masterpiece, which will be introduced by Los Angeles artist Jennifer West.

Films and filmmakers of the Czech New Wave fought hard to survive on both sides of the Iron Curtain, though their fresh perspectives and ongoing impact suggest otherwise. You won’t want to miss this rare opportunity to see these important films.

More information on each film in this series can be found here.

How to Get Here:

The Getty Center is located at 1200 Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles, California, approximately 12 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

See Hours, Directions, Parking for maps and driving directions.