The Czechoslovak New Wave and beyond

When it comes to Central and Eastern European film, few movements loom larger than the Czechoslovak New Wave. Emerging in a period of political liberalisation and protest, the New Wave produced a raft of formally and politically audacious films before the so-called “Prague Spring” was crushed by a Soviet invasion in 1968 and the reimposition of stricter cultural controls. Figures like Miloš Forman and Věra Chytilová have long since passed into the canon. 2026 will mark 60 years since the release of films as influential as Chytilová’s Daisies, Jiří Menzel’s Closely Observed Trains, and Jan Němec’s A Report on the Party and Guests.

But what exactly does it mean to talk about the New Wave after all this time? What are we missing? Which names get left out of the conversation? What happened after the crushing of the Prague Spring? And what about the often overlooked Slovak aspect of this Czechoslovak phenomenon?

To try and answer some of these questions, this week host Sam Goff speaks with Prague-based writer and programmer Christopher Small, co-founder and co-editor of the wonderful Outskirts Film Magazine and an editor and writer for the Locarno Film Festival.

Make sure to check out Outskirts and their excellent podcast.

Explore Klassiki’s collection of Czech and Slovak titles here.

Over on the Journal, we’ve got you covered for more writing on the New Wave, Věra Chytilová, Ester Krumbachová, and Juraj Herz.

Get in touch: podcast@klassiki.online.

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Intro music by Juliet Merchant.