Pearls of the Deep

Film Info

Czechoslovakia
1966
107 minutes
Color, Black and White
1.33:1
Czech

A manifesto of sorts for the Czech New Wave, this five-part anthology shows off the breadth of expression and the versatility of the movement’s directors. Based on stories by the legendary writer Bohumil Hrabal, the shorts range from the surreally chilling to the caustically observant to the casually romantic, but all have a cutting, wily view of the world.

Cast

Mother (“Mr. Baltazar’s Death”)	Pavla Marsálková
Father (“Mr. Baltazar’s Death”)	Ferdinand Kruta
Cripple (“Mr. Baltazar’s Death”)	Alois Vachek
Singer (“The Impostors”)	Milos Cirnácty
Journalist (“The Impostors”)	František Havel
Barber (“The Impostors”)	Josef Hejl
Undertaker (“The Impostors”)	Jan Vašák
Mother (“The House of Joy”)	Josefa Pechlátová
Painter (“The House of Joy”)	Václav Zák
Agent (“The House of Joy”) and Gaston Košilka (“Romance”)	Ivan Vyskocil
Agent (“The House of Joy”)	Antonin Pokorny
Bride (“The Restaurant the World”)	Vera Mrázková
Artist (“The Restaurant the World”)	Vladimír Boudník
Bartender (“The Restaurant the World”)	Alzběta Laštovková
Margitka (“Romance”)	Dana Valtová
Guard (“Romance”)	Karel Jerábek

Credits

Director	Jiří Menzel, Věra Chytilová, Jaromil Jireš, Jan Němec and Evald Schorm
Stories by	Bohumil Hrabal
Screenplay	Bohumil Hrabal, Jiří Menzel, Jan Němec, Evald Schorm, Věra Chytilová and Jaromil Jireš
Assistant director	Kveta Ondráková
Cinematography	Jaroslav Kucera
Editors	Jirina Lukesová and Miloslav Hájek
Set designer	Olin Bosák
Music	Jan Klusák and Jiří Sust