Moravian Hellas

Karel Vachek / Czech Republic / 1963 / 34 min.

synopsis

The film debut of Karel Vachek, the most important personality in Czech film documentaries and one of the most important names in Czech cinematography as a whole. After the film was shown, the director was not able to shoot anything more for five years.

“I shot Moravian Hellas and something happened. I had offended the convictions of the rulers of that time, that the only good art arose from the people. When it became apparent that the “people” is the embodiment of kitsch and shabby deals, the rulers were enraged and for five years I wasn’t allowed near a camera.” K. Vachek

biography

Karel Vachek (1940) creates multi-layered philosophical and social essays. In 2004, he published the book The Theory of Matter. Films: Moravian Hellas, 1963, Elective Affinities, 1968, New Hyperion or Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood, 1992, What Is to Be Done? (A Journey from Prague to Český Krumlov, or How I Formed a New Government, 1996, Bohemia Docta or The Labyrinth of the World and the Lust-house of the Heart A Divine Comedy, 2000, Who Will Watch the Watchman? Dalibor, or the Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin, 2002, Obscurantist and His Lineage or The Pyramids’ Tearful Valleys, 2011.