Why is the Czech Republic so popular with foreign filmmakers? Possibly for the same reasons as you will love the country. Here you will find extraordinarily colourful landscapes and towns with inimitable atmospheres, ideal to appear as the backdrop to films from any period. Other pluses in the Czech Republic are its modern film studios and the expertise and experience of Czech filmmakers.
Historical films
Amadeus
This period film by the Czech-born director, Miloš Forman, about the life of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is known the world over. The Oscar winning picture was made in 1984 at the Baroque chateau in Kroměříž in South Moravia and in Prague.
Oliver Twist
This film based on the famous novel by Charles Dickens was shot in the Czech Republic in 2005 by director, Roman Polanski.
Tristan a Isolda
One of the greatest love stories of all time was shot to a large extent in the Czech Republic in 2005.
From Hell
A mysterious tale about the most notorious murderer Great Britain has ever known – Jack the Ripper - stars Johnny Deppe and was shot in Prague in 2001.
Hart’s War
This wartime drama was shot at the Barrandov Studios in 2002. Bruce Willis stars in the film.
Action films
Mission Impossible
The first in this series of popular action films (1996) starring Tom Cruise was shot in the Czech Republic, mostly in Prague.
Casino Royale
The latest adventures of James Bond (2006) were filmed at the best known Czech spa, Karlov Vary among other places. You may also catch sight of the Strahov Library, the National Museum and Loket Castle.
xXx
The popular action film xXx (2002) starring Vin Diesel takes place for the most part in Prague.
League of Extraordinary Gentleman
This film was not only shot here, but was also premiered in Prague (2003), an event which the main star, Sean Connery, attended in person.
Fantasy films
The mysterious atmosphere of the Czech capital is ideal for making films heavy with supernatural occurrences and mystique. Hell Boy (2004), Blade II (2002) and Van Helsing (2004) were all shot in the Czech capital.
The Chronicles of Narnia
While the 2005 film based on the first book in the Narnia series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, was shot only partly in the Czech Republic (in the Czech Switzerland Region), almost the entire second instalment (2007) was made here.
The Brothers Grimm
Director Terry Gilliam does not hide his love of the Czech Republic; he even cast famous Czech actors in roles for the film The Brothers Grimm (2005), which was shot in Prague, at Křivoklát castle and in Kutná Hora.
Tips for visitors:
You can find more information on films shot in the Czech Republic on the Czech Film Commission website (www.filmcommission.cz).
Literature lovers know Lipnice nad Sázavou as the place where author J. Hašek lived the last years of his life and where he wrote his most famous works, The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk. Its house with exhibits is located directly beneath a rocky ridge, on which one of the largest Czech castles was constructed at the beginning of the 14th century.
The main attraction of Kroměříž, the town nicknamed the Athens of Hanacko, is its archiepiscopal chateau, which along with the chateau gardens and flower gardens are on the UNESCO list of worldwide cultural and natural heritage sites. For hundreds of zears, the chateau served as a residence for the bishops of Olomouc, and a series of important events occurred within its walls. There are also many other sites worth seeing in Kroměříž, such as the pontifical mint, featuring a collection of church issued coins and medals, the Baroque Church of St. John the Baptist with its interior in Rococo style and the house with a Renaissance entrance section on Velké náměstí square, which houses exhibits of the Kroměříž Museum and a monument to Max Švabinský.
Rock, pop, jazz, metal, hip hop... Audiences at summer open-air festivals will enjoy these and other genres. The schedule of events taking place under the open sky this year is once again truly great, and music fans thus can look forward to an eventful summer. 