We have a unique opportunity to watch several rarely screened Czech films spanning from 1960s to 2011, from the series "The Play's the Thing: Václav Havel, Art and Politics." The series commemorates Vaclav Havel and marks the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. Please see below for the films' descriptions. 

The films will be screened in two installments, on Wednesday October 22nd, at 5pm, and Thursday November 13th, at 7pm.

On Wednesday October 22, we will watch the following films:

The Uninvited Guest (Nezvaný host)         
Vlastimil Venclík, 1969, Czech with subtitles, 22 minutes

When a boorish official enters and makes himself at home in a young couple’s flat, it’s soon apparent that all the flats in the building face the same dilemma—each has its own intruder. After completing this short parable on socialist living, director Vlastimil Venclík was forbidden to make a film for twenty years. 

Every Young Man (Každý mladý muž)
Pavel Juráček, 1966, Czech with subtitles, 83 minutes

A soldier’s life under socialism is the focus of Every Young Man, Pavel Juráček’s absurdist drama in two parts. The first part follows a young recruit and his corporal on an outing into town to find a doctor (Václav Havel has a role as a patient awaiting treatment), while the second is set in an army camp, as young soldiers tackle their daily routines. The film ends with a heart-rending and unforgettable dancehall sequence.

Joseph Kilian aka A Person to Be Supported (Postava k podpírání)
Pavel Juráček, 1963, Czech with subtitles, 38 minutes

In Joseph Kilian, a man searches for an old acquaintance in Prague. On a whim, he enters a state-run cat rental shop and leases a feline for a day. When his search for Kilian proves futile, he attempts to drop off the cat, but finds that the rental store has completely vanished. 

All films are in Czech with subtitles. 

The series was curated by Margaret Parsons, head of the film department at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.