Back to (film) school in Uherske Hradiste
Summer in the Czech Republic is not just about swimming and sunbathing. During recent decades, film too, has become something of a summer ritual, and not only for its entertainment value. Two major summer events have helped film achieve this position. The first is the International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary, which takes place in the beginning of July. Lesser known, but growing in reputation, is the Summer Film School in Uherske Hradiste, which starts in late July.
According to the current Film School director, Jiri Kralik, the character of the event is closely related to its history:
"Exactly 40 years ago, on 5 august 1964 in Cimelice gathered about 40 fans - founders and activists of the film clubs. They spent a week together watching films, bathing, and learning new facts about cinematography. They liked this meeting so they agreed to organize it every year. So these film clubs representatives got together every year in the same places, mostly in Cimelice, Horovice or in Pisek. When they met in 1974 at the 10th time, they decided to call this gathering a "Summer Film School". So the Summer Film School which now celebrates 30th anniversary is actually a 40 years meeting of film fans who want to educate themselves in cinema culture."
Even though the Summer School might be similar in character to some independent film festivals, it bothers Jiri Kralik when people refer to the Uherske Hradiste event as to a film festival:
"Well, I don't like it because the festivals are becoming more and more rather like film fairs. They are places for business dealings, distributors' and producers' meetings, where they shop for films. When I come to a film festival, there are many people who are not interested in educating themselves in cinematography — their only business is to sell their movie. That's why the film festivals show above all new films — for the sake of selling them — and nothing else. I only regret that this fact is rather hidden from the viewers. They are happy that they can see these films; however, you can compare such festival costs to the expenses for 20 or 30 films' distribution ".
The Czech film director Vojtech Jasny, who is currently living in the United States, has been a guest of the Summer School already a couple of times. He agrees that this event is hard to compare to any other film event in the world:
"He is right, it is not a festival. It is a happening and it is a school to teach young people, not only film makers, but young people that are interested in cinema. I don't know in this world of commercial and market society...., this is the unique situation in the whole world showing so many very good films."
Jiri Kralik took over the organization of the Summer School in 1992 after two years of struggle. At that time, there were only a few dozen participants and the films were shown in a single cinema. The organisers decided to invite better known film personalities, like directors Peter Greenway and Terry Gilliam, and suddenly interest in the event took off. More and more young people began to attend the Summer School, not only to see their favourite films but also to attend workshops and discussions with film experts. Today, the Uherske Hradiste event shows about 250 films in 11 screening halls and attracts more than 4,000 visitors.
Film School director Jiri Kralik, however, rejects plans for any further expansion:
"We would like to stay roughly this size. We will focus on quality — and we will be stricter with the participants. We will challenge them with different tasks. We don't want to support so-called 'film tourism', people coming only for a day or two, just to hang out, or to see a couple of films. We will, on the contrary, try to encourage people to come for longer."
Films by the Iranian director Majid Majidy, who is well known for his soft and poetic, style of narration, were also very well received. Mr Majidy's most famous film, "Children of Heaven,"tells the story of two children who attempt to disguise a loss of a shoe from their strict father, who can't afford to buy his daughter new ones.
Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam of the famous Monty Python comedy troupe have become traditional guests of the Summer School. Both of them are well suited to this year's theme, as many of their films could be taken as adult fairytales.
Another topic of this year's Summer School was the Chinese cinema. The School has probably offered more Chinese films than any other film event in the Czech Republic to date.
Fen Ien Song is a Chinese singer who lives in the Czech Republic. Her concert was one of the additional events that accompanied the festival's program. I asked her whether she thinks that the Chinese films and music are well understandable for the European audience:
"Yes, certainly. The Europeans are interested in both Chinese music and movies as well. For example I, as a singer, I've been singing in Europe, mainly in the Czech Republic for many years. The beginning was very difficult but from my experience Czech people are usually interested in the sort of music I sing. In the culture, whether it is in music or in movies, everything depends on the feelings of your heart."
I also asked several participants of the Summer School what brings them to the event year after year:
"I am from Prague and I am here for the fourth time. I am here because I have a good experience with this film festival. I don't come to see any particular film, I just want to feel the atmosphere, and see a few films, which I can't see in Prague."
"I come from here - Uherske Hradiste but I live in Znojmo now. I've come here because I like the atmosphere and I usually come every year."
"I come from the West Bohemia, from Horni Slavkov. I came with a friend of mine. We would like to see some good films including for example the "Children of Heaven" by the Iranian director Majid Majidi."
"I am from France and I've come with my friend Rosta who is Czech. So I've come to be with him and to see some films. I am interested particularly in Czech and Russian films"
With such a varied programme, it is no wonder that the Summer Film School is regularly visited by thousands of young people from all over the country. They want to see good films that are not always available in the cinema; they want to enjoy the unique atmosphere of a film event in a cosy town in the South Moravia.
