Pearls of the Deep

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.

Comedy

Pavla Maršálková

(Mother (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara"))

Ferdinand Krůta

(Father František (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara"))

Alois Vachek

(Disabled Man (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara"))

Emil Iserle

(Uncle (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara"))

Miroslav Nohýnek

(Lover (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara"))

Slávka Španková

(Lover (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara"))

Bohumil Hrabal

(Spectator (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara"))

Jiří Menzel

(Cyclist (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara"))

Miloš Čtrnáctý

(Patient, Former Singer (segment "Podvodníci"))

František Havel

(Patient, Former Journalist (segment "Podvodníci"))

Josef Hejl

(Barber (segment "Podvodníci"))

Jan Vašák

(Attendand (segment "Podvodníci"))

Jiří Reichl

(Young Man with Fracture (segment "Podvodníci"))

Bohumil Hrabal

(Man by the House (segment "Podvodníci"))

Josefa Pechlátová

(Mother (segment "Dům radosti"))

Václav Žák

(Painter (segment "Dům radosti"))

Ivan Vyskočil

(Insurance Agent (segment "Dům radosti"))

Antonín Pokorný

(Insurance Agent (segment "Dům radosti"))

Věra Mrázkova

(Bride (segment "Automat Svět"))

Vladimír Boudník

(Art Designer (segment "Automat Svět"))

Alžběta Laštovková

(Barmaid (segment "Automat Svět"))

Václav Chochola

(Policeman (segment "Automat Svět"))

Jan Vala

(Handsome Man (segment "Automat Svět"))

K. Spejzová

(Dead Woman (segment "Automat Svět"))

Bohumil Hrabal

(Bohumil Hrabal (segment "Automat Svět"))

Dana Valtová

(Margitka, Gipsy (segment "Romance"))

Ivan Vyskočil

(Gaston Košilka (segment "Romance"))

Karel Jeřábek

(Guard (segment "Romance"))

František Příhoda

(Guard (segment "Romance"))

Bohumil Hrabal

(Sleeping Man in a Tram (segment "Romance"))

Ferdinand Krůta

(Gaston's Foreman (segment "Romance"))