The cultural liberalization of communist Czechoslovakia in the 1960s
produced many artistic accomplishments, not least the celebrated films
of the Czech New Wave. This movement saw filmmakers use their new
freedom to engage with traditions of the avant-garde, especially
Surrealism. This book explores the avant-garde's influence over the New
Wave and considers the political implications of that influence. The
close analysis of selected films, ranging from the Oscar-winning
Closely Observed Trains to the aesthetically challenging Daisies, is
contextualized by an account of the Czech avant-garde and a discussion
of the films' immediate cultural and political background.