Karel Vachek
Directing
Born 1940-08-04 · Tišnov, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic] · Died 2020-12-22
A controversial filmmaker - a documentary filmmaker of a philosophical nature, whose films have either supporters or opponents. From 1958 to 1963, he studied at the Prague FAMU. Already during his studies, he became famous for his filmmaking complexity, high erudition and philosophical-sociological depth of his films, which also led to distaste among some teachers (the school film Kamil Lhoták). He graduated from school with the film Moravian Hellas. It was a polemical reportage from the folk festivals in Strážnice. The film was personally banned by president Novotný. It was only permitted in 1968 and won an award at the Karlovy Vary IFF. In 1968, he made the famous documentary Spřízněni volbou, an artistic documentation of the events surrounding the presidential election (awarded at the Oberhausen IFF in 1969). After that, Vachek was unable to film again. He worked as a screenwriter in Krátký film Praha, but none of the scripts were realized. In 1979 he emigrated to the United States. After 1989 he returned and made 7 feature-length documentary novels that deal with a variety of topics. These films are distinguished not only by their exceptional length, but also by their deep thoughtfulness and philosophical nature. From 1994 until his death he taught and also headed the Department of Documentary Filmmaking at FAMU.
Acting
All Men Become Brothers
Communism and the Net, or the End of Representative Democracy
Self
Golden Sixties
Self
Bohemia Docta or the Labyrinth of the World and the Lust-House of the Heart (A Divine Comedy)
What Is to Be Done? A Journey from Prague to Ceský Krumlov, or How I Formed a New Government
Self
Crew
Points for the President aka Attempt at Contrarevolution
Dramaturgy
Communism and the Net, or the End of Representative Democracy
Screenplay
Communism and the Net, or the End of Representative Democracy
Director
Všichni mají pravdu? Karel Floss a ti druzí
Dramaturgy
Obscurantist and His Lineage or The Pyramids' Tearful Valley
Director
Obscurantist and His Lineage or The Pyramids' Tearful Valley
Story
Obscurantist and His Lineage or The Pyramids' Tearful Valley
Writer
Experience of an Exorcist
Dramaturgy
Záviš, the Prince of Pornofolk Under the Influence of Griffith's Intolerance and Tati's Monsieur Hulot's Holiday or the Establishment and Doom of Czechoslovakia (1918-1992)
Director
Záviš, the Prince of Pornofolk Under the Influence of Griffith's Intolerance and Tati's Monsieur Hulot's Holiday or the Establishment and Doom of Czechoslovakia (1918-1992)
Screenplay
Who Will Watch the Watchman? Dalibor, or the Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin
Director
Who Will Watch the Watchman? Dalibor, or the Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin
Screenplay
Bohemia Docta or the Labyrinth of the World and the Lust-House of the Heart (A Divine Comedy)
Screenplay
Bohemia Docta or the Labyrinth of the World and the Lust-House of the Heart (A Divine Comedy)
Director
What Is to Be Done? A Journey from Prague to Ceský Krumlov, or How I Formed a New Government
Screenplay
What Is to Be Done? A Journey from Prague to Ceský Krumlov, or How I Formed a New Government
Director
What Is to Be Done? A Journey from Prague to Ceský Krumlov, or How I Formed a New Government
Story
What Is to Be Done? A Journey from Prague to Ceský Krumlov, or How I Formed a New Government
Title Designer
New Hyperion or Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood
Director
New Hyperion or Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood
Screenplay