Czechoslovak Architecture 58–89

Brutally beautiful, yet brutally overlooked. Amidst the gray sea of prefabricated panel buildings, the second half of the 20th century also saw the creation of exceptional, spiritual, and timeless structures that garnered attention even in the West. Jan Zajíček, inspired by an idea from Vladimir 518, created a unique feature-length, exploratory film delving into the pre-revolutionary architectural scene. Against the backdrop of impressive shots of the most interesting post-war buildings in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, complemented by testimonies from leading architects and theorists, a vivid portrait of an era emerges—one where alongside the official, structured order, there flourished much that was bold, modern, and inspiring.

CZ/SK, 2024, 126 min.; cz / en sub