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 Consumerism17:09 - Three Pillars of the Czech New Wave: Ordinary Lives, Humor & Sex18:59 - Humor as a National Survival Strategy in Czech History21:07 - Language, Subtitles & Why Jokes Get Lost in Translation24:01 - Inside Closely Watched Trains: Sex, Satire & War’s Absurdity ​29:05 - Underground Resistance in Closely Watched Trains32:23 - What Defines a Czech New Wave Film?33:55 - Miloš Forman’s Mock Audition (1963)37:10 - Youth Culture, Motorcycles & Kinetic Camerawork41:00 - Realism Rises After Socialist Fatigue42:55 - Early Features: Black Peter and the Movement’s Peak ​43:22 - Miloš Forman Goes Global: Black Peter & Early Awards44:58 - Hallmarks of the Czech New Wave (Humor, Realism, Non‑Actors)45:56 - The Firemen’s Ball — Subtle Satire & Political Easter Eggs49:40 - “Everything Belongs to You”: Socialism, Theft & Daily Life51:00 - Why Czech Audiences Flocked to These Films55:56 - Beyond Realism: Films as a Wake‑Up Call for Social Change ​57:44 - Cinema Sparks Youth Activism & the Road to Prague Spring58:24 - A Midnight Encounter Inspires Loves of a Blonde59:45 - Factory Girls, Small‑Town Dreams & Social Constraints1:02:10 - Forman’s Signature POV: Under‑the‑Table Realism1:04:55 - Heartbreak, Hope & Owning Your Future1:06:08 - Milan Kundera’s Literary Imprint & The Joke ​1:11:54 - Postcard Prank & Expulsion in Kundera’s The Joke1:13:30 - Mining Flashbacks & the Last New Wave Picture1:15:45 - Did the Movement Really Influence World Cinema?1:17:30 - 1970s “Normalization”: Films Locked Away1:20:25 - Forman’s Shadow and Today’s Czech Filmmakers1:23:45 - Oscar‑Winning Kolya: Love Across Borders ​Like and subscribe for more :)

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