Culture

November 7-14: Mezipatra Queer Film Festival

Mezipatra Queer Film Festival, the biggest and most successful queer film festival in Central and Eastern Europe, will take place in Prague between the 7th and the 14th of November. It will then continue in Brno until November 22nd. For twenty years, it has brought the best feature films, documentaries and short films with LGBTQ+ topics. The festival will take place in Lucerna, Světozor, Kino Pilotů and Kino 35. The passes can be purchased in Prague and Brno in the box offices of Světozor, Lucerna and Pilotů cinemas, or online until October 15th, for the price of CZK 590 (you get to see seven films for the price of five) or CZK 120 per screening. This year’s twentieth edition theme is “Winds of Change” and will be the first time in history there will be an international industry program for all viewers interested in the inner working of the queer film industry. This section is called “Queering the Industry”, and you can attend it either if you are a film professional or a festival visitor. It will consist of several discussions with experts about the current problems and challenges in the film industry, masterclasses of renowned filmmakers, and short films...

by Lidia T. Oct 15, 2019

Movie Review: “The Prague Orgy” – Less Liberty, Better Fucks

The director Irena Pavlásková just finished her film The Prague Orgy based on a novel of the same name by a literary legend, Philip Roth, one of the most respected writers in the world. It is the first time in Czech film history that the Czech artist was granted rights personally from such a world-wide famous artist, winner of Pulitzer Award, Man Booker Award, and many other literary awards. It will premiere in Czech cinemas today (Thursday, October 10th) The story The story of The Prague Orgy brings us to mid-70s. A famous American writer Nathan Zuckerman – often used alter ego of Philip Roth himself – arrives in Prague to save a manuscript of a banned book. Thanks to searching for the manuscript he gets to know a peculiar and wild Olga and gets into renowned parties where everyone has his or her own way how to escape to short-term freedom. Zuckerman is attracted to the eccentric woman by her mysteries and is scared by her shameless openness at the same time. Gradually, against his will, he becomes not only a spectator but also a participant of a decadent spectacle, where many people play a false game and no...

by Prague Morning Staff Oct 10, 2019

Jan Palach Memorial is Officially Open

The house where Jan Palach grew up in Všetaty officially opens today as a memorial featuring a multimedia exposition. The opening ceremony was attended by the minister of culture and Cardinal Dominik Duka. The house was purchased in 2014 and was in poor condition due to it being uninhabited for many years. An architectural competition was held to find a plan to renovate the building, and a design was chosen in May 2016. The National Museum got a building permit in early 2018 but had difficulty finding a contractor for the amount of money offered. One was finally chosen and work began in August 2018. The house will contain objects from Palach’s life as well as displays to put the events of 1968 and ’69 into context. Among the items is Palach’s briefcase, which was found on the spot where he set himself on fire, and a letter found within it. January 16, 1968 Jan Palach had seen the hope of Dubcek’s promise of a better life and it must have been hard when this hope was crushed. He and others like him were sure to protest but about what? In the case of Jan Palach, it was not to...

by Prague Morning Oct 09, 2019

Prague Named the Most Cultured City in Central Europe

Prague ranks #3 among the 50 most cultured cities in Europe and number one in Central Europe.

by Prague Morning Oct 09, 2019

Have I Gone Mad? 3D “Alice in Wonderland” Musical in Prague

"Alice in Wonderland" is a family musical with the use of 3D glasses. The show takes place in Prague from the 18th to the 20th of October.

by Lidia T. Oct 09, 2019

Slav Epic to Return to Moravský Krumlov For Five Years

The Slav Epic cycle of paintings will be exhibited at Moravsky Krumlov chateau in southern Moravia for at least five years.

by Prague Morning Oct 07, 2019

Impressionist Masters at Kinsky Palace

The National Gallery Prague (NGP) opened a large exhibition French ... Auguste Renoir, and Camille Pissarro on June 29 in the Kinsky Palace.

by Richard Sovitzky Oct 07, 2019

Prague’s Powder Tower to Undergo Thorough Reconstruction

The 15th-century Powder Tower in Prague centre will undergo a thorough reconstruction next year.

by Prague Morning Oct 07, 2019

Cimrman – Unique Theatre in Prague

Well, you have to be lucky to visit this theatre and see the play performed in English. However, it is my most favorite cultural gem of Czech Republic – Divadlo Jary Cimrmana (Theatre of Jara Cimrman) and I cannot keep this a secret from you. Two years ago a group of English-speaking theatre enthusiasts took it upon themselves to translate the genius of the most famous Czech playwright, sportsman, engineer, composer, detective, inventor, and self-taught gynecologist Jara Cimrman into English and formed the Cimrman English Theatre. If you ask any Czech about Jara Cimrman, you will hear a lot of stories and you would be assured that he is a national hero. If you ask any foreigner, you will probably realize that nobody outside of this country has ever heard of Jara Cimrman. Maybe this is because of the fact that he is only a fictional person (nevertheless, he was nominated to the post of Czech president). Seeing the play in this theater (written by Jara Cimrman) will illustrate the typically Czech sense of humor. So, if you are reading this during your visit to Prague, it is probably too late to get the tickets. But if you are (unlike me) planning your...

by Prague Morning Oct 04, 2019

November 7-14: Mezipatra Queer Film Festival