Czechoslovak New Wave, Miloš Forman, Milan Kundera

This week, I sit down with Professor Karen von Kunes from the University of Toronto for a fascinating deep dive into the Czech and Slovak New Wave. We explore the surreal, the satirical, and the socially charged films that emerged during one of the most creatively explosive—and politically turbulent—moments in cinema history.

From Closely Watched Trains to Daisies, from Forman’s under-the-table realism to Kundera’s polyphonic prose, this conversation uncovers the strange magic that still lingers in these films decades later. If you’ve ever wondered what makes Czech cinema so quietly radical, this episode is for you.

Five films to watch from the Czech and Slovak New Wave:

The Audition / Competition (Miloš Forman, 1963) – mock talent‑show that launched the Wave
Loves of a Blonde (Forman, 1965) – bittersweet factory‑town romance
Daisies (Věra Chytilová, 1966) – psychedelic prank that still feels avant‑garde
Closely Watched Trains (Jiří Menzel, 1966) – Oscar‑winning coming‑of‑age at a sleepy wartime station
The Firemen’s Ball (Forman, 1967) – small‑town raffle becomes a parable of socialist dysfunction
(Curious listeners can then graduate to The Joke (Jireš, 1969) and the 1996 Oscar‑winner Kolya.)

Video Chapters:

0:00 - Welcome & Episode Overview

0:35 - 1960s Political Thaw in Czechoslovakia

2:00 - Prague Film Academy Sparks a Generation

4:40 - Slánský Trials & Cultural Opening

7:00 - Italian Neorealism Inspires Czech Filmmakers

12:00 - Defining the Czech New Wave Style

13:50 - “Daisies” vs “Closely Watched Trains” — One Movement?

14:36 - ‘Daisies’: Surrealist Rebellion Against 60s Consumerism

17:09 - Three Pillars of the Czech New Wave: Ordinary Lives, Humor & Sex

18:59 - Humor as a National Survival Strategy in Czech History

21:07 - Language, Subtitles & Why Jokes Get Lost in Translation

24:01 - Inside Closely Watched Trains: Sex, Satire & War’s Absurdity ​

29:05 - Underground Resistance in Closely Watched Trains

32:23 - What Defines a Czech New Wave Film?

33:55 - Miloš Forman’s Mock Audition (1963)

37:10 - Youth Culture, Motorcycles & Kinetic Camerawork

41:00 - Realism Rises After Socialist Fatigue

42:55 - Early Features: Black Peter and the Movement’s Peak ​

43:22 - Miloš Forman Goes Global: Black Peter & Early Awards

44:58 - Hallmarks of the Czech New Wave (Humor, Realism, Non‑Actors)

45:56 - The Firemen’s Ball — Subtle Satire & Political Easter Eggs

49:40 - “Everything Belongs to You”: Socialism, Theft & Daily Life

51:00 - Why Czech Audiences Flocked to These Films

55:56 - Beyond Realism: Films as a Wake‑Up Call for Social Change ​

57:44 - Cinema Sparks Youth Activism & the Road to Prague Spring

58:24 - A Midnight Encounter Inspires Loves of a Blonde

59:45 - Factory Girls, Small‑Town Dreams & Social Constraints

1:02:10 - Forman’s Signature POV: Under‑the‑Table Realism

1:04:55 - Heartbreak, Hope & Owning Your Future

1:06:08 - Milan Kundera’s Literary Imprint & The Joke ​

1:11:54 - Postcard Prank & Expulsion in Kundera’s The Joke

1:13:30 - Mining Flashbacks & the Last New Wave Picture

1:15:45 - Did the Movement Really Influence World Cinema?

1:17:30 - 1970s “Normalization”: Films Locked Away

1:20:25 - Forman’s Shadow and Today’s Czech Filmmakers

1:23:45 - Oscar‑Winning Kolya: Love Across Borders ​

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