Zdeněk Zelenka

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A tale of a boy whose desire to correct human vices was stronger than the power of hell itself. Apolena, a herbalist, finds an abandoned newborn baby in a rye field. She names him Rye and raises him into a brave young man. Rye is recruited into the king's army and the king's evil advisor, Prince Neklan, orders him to collect taxes from his subjects. Rye learns first-hand how evil and unjust power can be and rebels against it. His sense of justice, joy of life and cleverness charm even Princess Adelka, but he also catches the eye of the devil Philistine, who would like to bring him to hell. So she disguises herself as the beautiful Marquise and tries to lure him to the benefits of evil: he will be rich and famous. But Rye cannot be lured. And so, in addition to Neklan, who is also trying to win Adelka, he must also fight against the power of hell itself.

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A battle over a family inheritance breaks out among the main characters of the comedy. Their ideas about what to do with it vary. A quirky widow full of life sees it one way, while her repeatedly divorced daughter, unemployed son, and his ex-wife see it another.

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Irena is the energetic owner of a thriving business. However, after a serious car accident, she decides to sell her company and donate the proceeds to those in need. When her son Jarda finds out that she has begun giving away the fortune he was supposed to inherit, he begins to pressure his wife to have his own mother declared incompetent.

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In a godforsaken cave, a traveling journeyman fills his pockets with gold. Voita lost his father and mother in the war and is now seeking his fortune in the world. He got to the abyss at Gallows Mountain only by chance - or have mysterious powers led him there in this spooky stormy night? Suddenly, he notices a strange fellow among the treasures. The apparent ghost and custodian of this treasure chases away the young man, who still manages to secretly pocket a small, fateful lighter...

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In a land of two kingdoms - one ruthless under King Vladan’s conquests, the other hidden behind a magical lake and ruled by kindly King Dobromil - Queen of Fire enchants Princess Mariana in living flame to force Dobromil’s hand in ceding the kingdom’s fabled Ruby Heart. Desperate, Dobromil uses a magic ring to summon the ever-jovial Tadeáš from Vladan’s realm; Tadeáš braves the flames, rescues Mariana, and wins her heart, only for their triumph to be threatened once more.

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A young high school student is flying to Canada for a study abroad program. He is very excited and does not even notice the subconscious fear of his parents, especially his mother. When a tragedy occurs far away "across the pond," it turns the lives of all the characters in this story upside down. It shakes up their destinies, lives, feelings, moods, and even their futures...But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

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The story of František Stára, a recovering alcoholic, concertmaster, and composer. After returning from alcohol rehabilitation, he quickly realizes that his euphoric determination to start over is a tragic illusion. His wife has moved out of their apartment and found another man. A similar fiasco awaits him at his former job and later during his short stint at an elementary art school. At the most difficult moment, when František's private hopes and professional plans are collapsing and he resigns, he is selflessly helped by his former fellow patient from the clinic, Eda Mandík. This man, himself weak, inconsistent, and irresponsible, with unexpected and self-destructive devotion, gives up his own personal happiness and energetically spurs his flagging will to save his only friend. The price Eda pays for this act is not small, but his sacrifice was meaningful.

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Although this is a classic fairy tale, you will see a number of new characters in it. Right at the beginning, you will meet three fairies, Týna, Mína, and Vesna, who bring their two young charges, Isabel and Felicia, to the royal ball. The king chooses Felicia as his bride, while the other, Isabel, swears terrible revenge. Fortunately, the curse she casts over the cradle of the little princess Růženka is mitigated by the wise fairy Vesna, but she is unable to break it. And so the whole kingdom lives in fear of the approaching sixteenth birthday of Princess Sleeping Beauty. Despite all the ingenious precautions, Isabella achieves her goal and the whole kingdom falls into a deep sleep. Fortunately, there is a spell more powerful than all others—love? Two rescuers set out to wake Sleeping Beauty: the gardener Janek and Prince Matyáš. Which of them is the right one, and what will happen to the evil Isabela? You'll find out this Christmas.

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Oldřich Brůna always had a soft spot for women, but when he met Ljuba Pelíšková, he immediately realized that he had encountered an extraordinary personality. She is intelligent, educated, beautiful, knowledgeable about alternative medicine, works with auras, gives massages, and treats people with herbs. Oldřich is thrilled, and Ljuba becomes his guru—his spiritual teacher.

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A documentary exploring the life and career of acclaimed Czech director and screenwriter Václav Vorlíček (1930–2019), known for his imaginative comedies and beloved fairy tale films. From his early days at FAMU and Barrandov Studios to cult classics like Three Wishes for Cinderella and Arabela, the film revisits the legacy of a filmmaker who left a lasting mark on generations of viewers.

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Erben's original text, which did not exceed half a page in length, served Zelenka only as a source of inspiration to write a plot-rich story about two brothers, one of whom lives in luxury because Luck helped him to wealth, and the other lives in absolute poverty because he loves him Poverty, and she, out of love for him, doesn't want to allow him to get rich and let his life be complicated by worrying about possessions. However, not only the struggle with poverty and the arrogance that comes from owning a large property are the main motives of this charming comedy, which is intended for children of all ages. The desire for love and the search for happiness in life plays an important role in this sometimes very exciting story, and an equally important motive here is the motive of forgiveness of guilt in the name of more permanent values, among which in this case the relationship of two brothers can be included.

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Second-rate writer Marton spends his not-yet-advanced old age in a luxurious retirement home. Apart from his grandson, who lives somewhere in Australia, he has no one else in the world. His wife left him long ago, but he cannot forget her. He feels he cannot bear the empty, monotonous life among equally abandoned people. He confides in his diary that he will commit suicide in the coming days. But then new guests arrive—the beautiful Mrs. Rouvrová and her disabled husband. A spark quickly ignites between Marton and Mrs. Rouvrová, and suicide is forgotten. But mysterious deaths begin to occur in the home, and soon there is no doubt that they are murders. Marton must ultimately suspect his late love, Mrs. Rouvrová...

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Every castle hides some secret. This is no different in the fairy tale Treasure at Owl Castle. Deep underground at Owl Castle lies a treasure guarded by a golden owl. The treasure has remained hidden from the human world for centuries. Only the fairy-tale gnomes Kilián and Damián and their friend Emilka the owl knew of its existence. And if these gnomes had not happened to meet the children Honzík and Andělka, the treasure would have remained hidden forever. But gnomes are talkative creatures, and children are very curious. So it wasn't long before the stingy and greedy duchess from the nearby castle found out about the treasure. The wealth left to her by the duke wasn't enough for her; she wanted more and more. So she decided to get the golden treasure at any cost. This put not only herself but also the children in dangerous situations.

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A black comedy about suicides. Good old England, 1937—a spooky night scene on the moors, silhouettes of trees, the distant silhouette of a small castle reflected in the glistening water. Only the Hound of the Baskervilles is missing... we see only distant silhouettes of figures on a raft and have no idea where they are sailing.

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Harpagon is a wealthy man, but he rules his household with a greedy fist. He skimps on everything, tyrannizes and restricts his children and staff. At the same time, however, he is a hedonist. He would like to marry the young and charming Mariana, who prefers his son Cleante. He intends to marry his daughter Élisabeth off without a dowry to an aging man and Kleante to a rich widow. However, Élisabeth secretly loves Valère, the steward, who pretends to flatter Harpagon and tries to win his favor. The marriages in the house are organized by the shrewd matchmaker Frosine, with the help of the cunning servant Chicaneur. After many humorous twists and turns, everything turns out differently than the master of the house had hoped. Instead of Mariana, he embraces his lost and rediscovered gold coins and wants nothing to do with his children. The two young couples in love find temporary refuge with Frosina.

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Based on a play by French playwright Georges Feydeau. This comedy, often defined as a farce, has an incredible pace, with its transformations arranged with machine-like precision and enviable rhythm.

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Today's story takes place in distant California, but it could just as easily happen here. It tells of dangerous intrigues, accusations, and slander that can have a devastating effect on anyone's life... Phillip Madison has a happy family and a thriving medical practice, with a reputation as one of the best surgeons around. However, an enemy suddenly appears in his almost idyllic life – the psychopathic Brittany Harding, who begins to blackmail Madison – accusing him of rape and threatening his marriage and professional reputation. When her blackmail fails, her aggression knows no bounds. One night, an accident occurs and the doctor is charged with causing bodily harm to two random pedestrians, resulting in their deaths. The investigation and subsequent trial aim to prove his guilt or find another culprit. Is the doctor innocent, and will he manage to clear himself of the false accusations and charges of manslaughter?

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Jack Duluth, together with Ronald Sheldon, is the owner of a wealthy publishing house and considers his co-owner to be his best friend. That's why he is greatly upset that his son Bill has fallen in love with Ronald's young new wife Jean. Jean and her poor, eccentric family are completely financially dependent on Sheldon. Especially her father, an unrecognized writer who expects the publisher to publish his controversial writings. However, the young people's mutual romantic attraction soon becomes apparent, and Sheldon explodes. He intends to sever his friendly ties not only with Duluth and his son, but also to expel his wife and her family from his home. The next day, however, the servant finds him shot dead. Bill is arrested, having taken the murder weapon.

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A seemingly complicated story about the search for the murderer of two dead people who are first found, only to disappear again shortly afterwards. No matter how hard Commissioner Baxter tries, his investigation is constantly disrupted by Mrs. Piper, whose interference stems not only from her sense of importance, but also from the fact that many, many years ago, she had an affair with the then-young Baxter.

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Based on the novel by French writer Jean Labord, who was a long-time court reporter for the Paris newspaper France-Soir, Jiří Hubač wrote a compelling story with a strong ethical message. The television film of the same name, directed by Zdeněk Zelenka, tells the story of the eternal fluctuation of justice between truth and its outward appearance. It focuses on a case of judicial error, the victim of which is a young nurse, Genevieve Leblanc. She is accused of giving a lethal injection to her lover, government advisor Dupré. In the court investigation, two prominent lawyers clash: Judge Gaudet, who gradually becomes convinced that the girl is innocent, and attorney Cassidis, who elegantly manipulates witnesses, facts, and words.

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Somewhere in a fairy-tale land lies a small, not very wealthy, but charming little kingdom. It is also the Czech kingdom - Velký Titěrákov, as it is called there. This little country is ruled by King Valentine and his wise wife. Or is it the other way around? Either way, they would both like to see their only son and heir to the throne, Prince Hubert, finally marry and take over the reign. But Hubert just can't seem to choose a wealthy princess, as his father would like. So, it seems to the royal parents that the future young queen is nowhere in sight. Neither of them suspects that Hubert has long since found his queen, the queen of his heart—the beautiful but poor Božidara from the farm. However, the two lovers keep their love a secret. They know that the king would never bless the marriage of a prince to a goat herder. Unless a miracle happened...

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Gone are the days when Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte won battles, received ovations, and felt like a victor. All good things must come to an end, and after his fateful defeat at Waterloo, the famous military leader is shamefully imprisoned on the island of Saint Helena, where he commands chickens, fights rats for food, and stubbornly resists the ironclad laws of the English crown alongside his aides. But suddenly, the energetic Frenchwoman Ponti appears in the life of the defeated giant, willing to ride roughshod over even the feared governor out of respect for the emperor.

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The filmed fairy-tale is a comedy based on the classical story about Reason and Happiness. This enchanting couple is ever debating on which of the two is more important for mankind, their encounters are watched by the third fairy-tale figure aunt Envy. A story of true love that wins over the evil powers of immortal human envy.

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Mrs Hrabětová is exactly the type of person who is called a "woman of the people". A bit of a housekeeper, a bit of a do-gooder. She suffers from a complex that she's never been able to make decisions about anything or anyone. Once she gets the chance, she'll grow up. Alone in her own eyes. A little, trampy, mousey, scared-eyed woman becomes a passionate avalanche. Confusing and uncontrollable on the surface, but very accurately portrayed in the acting, because one of the most popular Czech actresses can play even chaotic outbursts of bitter comedy really well.

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Boccaccio's famous Decameron brings ten beautiful stories that were told to pass the time by those who escaped from certain death from Florence when the plague spread there in 1348. The four medieval stories were adapted by director Zdeněk Zelenka as a television love cycle. The director entrusted the main role in this comedy to Viktor Preiss. His horse trader is married, but he likes to arrange rendezvous with various women on his travels. It is no wonder that he becomes the target of jokes from his pub buddies, during various escapades he ends up among murderers and in the tomb of a rich nobleman, but he manages to resolve all situations with humor.

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Dana is young medical student with no self esteem, she can't deal with life, people and even not with herself. After her boyfriend leaves her, she changes to selfish woman, manipulating people and making them to serve her. She plays with her husband, neighbors and friends - for her own good and for fun.

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A tragic event in the life of a film director searching on two continents for the traces of Jawaharlal Nehru.

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A comedy concerning a down on his luck bookshop owner with a penchant for women who decides to make some money by pretending to be a waiter and collecting cash from unsuspecting diners.

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The future communist journalist Julius Fučík had a stimulating childhood and youth in a working-class environment, when his moral maturity was already showing. The authors of the film recall that the young Julek was a star of the suburban operetta scene, and in three episodes they depict him both in his early childhood and already at the gymnasium, when the outbreak of the World War shaped his determination.

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Irena is the energetic owner of a thriving business. However, after a serious car accident, she decides to sell her company and donate the proceeds to those in need. When her son Jarda finds out that she has begun giving away the fortune he was supposed to inherit, he begins to pressure his wife to have his own mother declared incompetent.

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A WW I veteran still haunted by his time in the trenches settles in a small town to work for the railroad company. His pretty wife attracts the attention of the lonely young gravedigger.

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A documentary exploring the life and career of acclaimed Czech director and screenwriter Václav Vorlíček (1930–2019), known for his imaginative comedies and beloved fairy tale films. From his early days at FAMU and Barrandov Studios to cult classics like Three Wishes for Cinderella and Arabela, the film revisits the legacy of a filmmaker who left a lasting mark on generations of viewers.

Open details →

Erben's original text, which did not exceed half a page in length, served Zelenka only as a source of inspiration to write a plot-rich story about two brothers, one of whom lives in luxury because Luck helped him to wealth, and the other lives in absolute poverty because he loves him Poverty, and she, out of love for him, doesn't want to allow him to get rich and let his life be complicated by worrying about possessions. However, not only the struggle with poverty and the arrogance that comes from owning a large property are the main motives of this charming comedy, which is intended for children of all ages. The desire for love and the search for happiness in life plays an important role in this sometimes very exciting story, and an equally important motive here is the motive of forgiveness of guilt in the name of more permanent values, among which in this case the relationship of two brothers can be included.

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