Whenever we travel, we always make a point of seeing a movie: the fact that it’s such a common and familiar scene only highlights the little differences between cultures. And we also like to see a movie popular in the destination we’re eyeing because - again - it shows the human experience from a point of view that may be different than your own. This will sound strange, but for instance Jan never really wanted to particularly visit Miami until he saw Moonlight.

So we thought we’d give you five cult Czech movies because they might give you a bit of an insight into the Czech psyche… and what else do you want to do now, in early 2021, when everything’s locked down, than watch a movie? Exactly. Now, of course, we could go over the list back and forth and never settle on anything, so we just went with the five movies that we personally like and that we believe are available online with English subtitles. Yeah, it’s going to be subtitles, but come one, man or woman up. You know what we call watching a movie with subtitles here? „Watching a movie.“ You think Bruce Willis speaks Czech?

About that availability: we went with things that are available on Czech Netflix… only to find out they might not be available on US Netflix. So if you’re an expat living in Czechia, easy, and if you’re not, we think you’ll have to shop around a bit (Amazon Prime seems to be a good source, or this website looks great), but we’re confident you’ll find a streaming source. So put that popcorn in the microwave, open a bottle of something good, and enjoy!

Cosy Dens (Pelíšky in Czech)

Cosy Dens has won the popular vote on the „Comedy of the Century“ among the Czechs, and has become a highly-quotable Christmas classic. And just like all good Czech comedies, it adds a bit of sadness and melancholy into the mix.

Basically, we’re looking at a story of two neighbouring families living in the same building in Prague in late 60s, just as the grip of the Communist regime was easing. The two families have different political backgrounds and opinions and think very little of each other, but are ultimately united through a series of events (and a marriage), and then through the invasion of the Soviets in August 1968. It is also a coming-of-age story of the main characters, which happen to be in their late teens.

Why Czechs love it. It is just a super-sized shot of nostalgia strait up the vein. The soundtrack alone works perfectly to evoke that era… even if you didn’t live through it. (Think Back to the Future.) The cast is star-studded for a Czech movie, and some of the Christmas scenes just remind you of the Christmases at home (the bitter disappointments under the Christmas tree, or the live carp in the bathtub). Also, who does not love a good coming of age story? We’ve all been there.

Why you should watch it. It is just a damn good movie with loads of laughs and some sad moments along the way. The female characters are deeper than in most gag-driven comedies and the movie is kind to all of its characters, with their character flaws and all. It also shows the promise of Prague Spring, and the heartbreak of the Soviet invasion.

Waiter, Scarper! (Vrchní, prchni!)

Fun fact: we were showing a scene from it to the guests of our food tours to explain the quality of service under Communism. Anyway, this is another cult comedy about the „phantom of the Restaurants and Cafeterias Company“ (the monopoly that ran all eateries under Communism) that has reached a cult status among the Czechs, and one of many comedies from virtually the same team of creators that enjoyed a very productive streak in the late seventies and eighties.

The main character is you „everyman“ with one fatal flaw: he is an unstoppable womaniser past his prime who is now hustling to make ends meet, meaning to pay off all alimony payments to the multiple mothers of his multiple children. Having just visited a school reunion where everybody seems to be doing better than him (some thanks to activities that are illegal), he comes to a solution through a random misunderstanding in a restaurant: he becomes a „fake waiter“. The service in restaurants was generally very bad back then, so he dresses up as one, walks into a restaurant, cashes all the bills, and walks out without ever being noticed by the real staff who are just chatting and smoking at a bar.

Why Czechs love it. The movie was, given the time of its inception, surprisingly critical of the level of service in restaurants, which was on pointe. Also, some of the scenes are just funny, like whenever the main character tries to conceal his new wealth in front of a nosy neighbour. Again, this is a comedy but the main character is not a gangster - he’s a lovable loser who just happens to be in a tight spot and tries to find a way out of it, being conflicted about what he does throughout the movie.

Why you should watch it. It’s just damn funny, with lots of gags throughout the movie. But it also nicely shows life under Communism in the 1980s: the Communists entirely failed to create the class-less system they were promising. Class existed but through side-businesses and hustle, some of it illegal. And most people wanted in on the action, having to make moral compromises along the way. Please pay careful attention to a seemingly unimportant scene where the main character retells the story of the „pigs in rye“ to his kids. That is the 80s in a nutshell.

My Sweet Little Village (Vesničko má, středisková)

Another cult movie in Czechoslovakia, My Sweet Little Village was directed by Jiri Menzel, who previously won an Oscar with Closely Watched Trains. The movie was nominated for an Oscar as the Best Foreign Language Film, and some of the scenes and quotes have entered public domain.

This is an ensemble piece about a small village that follows closely the human traits of its inhabitants with empathy and humour. Essentially, the story revolves around Otík, a mentally backward young man, and Mr Pávek, his boss and de-facto protector, who is tired of covering for him and eventually sets him out to live in Prague, but having found out the entire move is a trick by a crooked politician with interest in Otík’s inherited house, Mr Pávek retrieves Otík from the big city, where Otík is miserable, back to the village. But this plot line does not give the movie justice - there are many subplots focusing on various villagers that make up the whole story.

Why Czechs love it. Again, this is a film that loves its characters and the rural setting. The movie was a hit when it came out (Jan remembers seeing it in a cinema with his mom) and people tend to know some of the scenes by heart, like the hypochondriac manager of the restaurant complaining to the doctor, or the „seventh step“ quote (this relates to the perfect temperature for beer). Also, there is a bit of melancholy about the country and the countryside that the Czechs enjoy.

Why you should watch it. It’s just a really nice, feel-good movie. It shows a bit of the tension between Prague and the countryside in a funny way, and while it may romanticise the country just a tiny bit, it does make a strong point for living in a community where people care for each other.

Three Wishes for Cinderella (Tři oříšky pro popelku)

„It’s Cinderella, but in this version, she like totally slays.“

I love oversimplified movie summaries (my personal favorite I’ve heard so far: “They fly somewhere in a space shuttle… and then their computer breaks down.” to explain “2001: A Space Odyssey”) , and this one is from one out the study abroad US students in Prague explaining the movie to the rest of our food tour she joined. Amazing stuff.

Now, famously in Czechia, this movie is incredibly popular abroad: it’s the movie families gather to watch on Christmas Day in Norway (think „It’s a Beautiful Life“ in the US), and the theme song (a breezy walz) is the no 1 song for the newly weds’ First Dance in German weddings. True story.

There are a few things that make this particular film different. Unlike almost any other fairytale movie, it’s shot in the winter, with horses prancing through snow and everybody wearing coats and having red cheeks. Also, it’s a women’s empowerment version of Cinderella: in this movie, she cross-dresses as a man, enters the prince’s entourage and is better at just about anything than the prince, who’s a bit of an incompetent douche and learns a life lesson through the movie.

Why Czechs love it. You may not know this, but Czechoslovakia was a bit of a European powerhouse when it came to youth programming (fun fact: Star Wars were not shown here because they were seen as a threat to the domestic fairy-tale churning machine), and many children in both Eastern and Western Europe grew up watching Czech cartoons, TV shows and fairytale movies for kids. This movie is one of the Crown Jewels of that tradition: the sets and costumes are amazing, and the winter feel of the entire movie makes this the perfect Christmas movie. You’re welcome, Norway.

Why you should watch it. Well, this is a great gateway to the world of Czech fairytale movies with all its strong points: the set designs, the costumes, the “adult” acting etc. Also, it is a surprising modern retelling of the Cinderella story - Cinderella does not need anybody’s help when dealing with the prince, and she can be whatever the hell she wants to be. In short, she totally slays.

The Cremator (Spalovač mrtvol)

Warning: While we’d argue this is a fantastic film, it has the traits of an art movie, so you have to be in the mood.

Often incorrectly labeled as a „comedy“, this really is a slightly bizarre but incredibly haunting Holocaust movie, although the movie lacks any Jewish roles whatsoever. The movie is about a creepy funeral director and his family as Czechoslovakia is split and the Czech Protectorate is occupied by the Nazis. Inspired by the Tibetan book of the dead, he comes to believe that cremation relieves earthly suffering… and there is, conveniently, an entire race that has suffered on earth long enough… get it? Oh, and he kills his family on his road to ultimate madness, as the movie uses wider and wider lenses to show his warped mind and distorted view of reality. In a word, „comedy“.

Why Czechs love it. Now, „love it“ is a strong word here, but Czechs truly appreciate it for the acting of Rudolf Hrušínský in the leading role, who really does give a haunting, mesmerising performance. Also, one can understand why some would put the movie in the „comedy“ department - there are some eerily dark but genuinely funny moments in the movie, which makes the entire experience even more haunting and captivating.

Why you should watch it. It is a cult movie that most (educated) Czechs have seen. Rudolf Hrušínský is amazing in the role, and it does provide a different, metaphoric view of the Holocaust. But again, watch the video above and see if this is a movie you’d like to watch.

Walking Too Fast (Pouta)

This is the most recent of all the movies listed here and arguably ably the darkest - and the most brutal - one.

It is a story of Antonín, a Czech secret police agent who falls in love with the lover of a dissident he is charged with surveilling. Antonín has anger management issues and his job gives him an outlet for what, as the movie progresses, clearly manifests itself as a mental illness. He uses his powers to steer the situation to his own favour - he protects Klára, the lover, from harm, while driving Tomáš, her lover and dissident, out of the country. The final meeting between Antonín and Klára leads to catharsis on Antonín’s part.

Why we love it. The movie received critical acclaim when it was released (and later re-released after it swept the Czech Lion awards, the Czech version of the Oscars). While it may not have been a blockbuster hit (mostly given the topic), some critics say it is one of the best Czech movies shot after the Velvet Revolution.

Why you should watch it. While The Life of Others, the Oscar-winning German movie with a very similar plot line, is kind to the viewer and to its characters, this movie shows a much grimmer image of the Communist secret police - no-one’s a hero, everyone’s afraid and easily manipulated, and police brutality runs unchecked. This movie is sometimes hard to watch, brutal and unforgiving. But it’s a great movie. Note: streaming this on dates is akin to saying „Hey, why don’t we watch American Psycho“ on your first date. Not a great idea.