Patrani po Ester

Ester Krumbachova. There are some infos at imdb and cfn, but still no complete credit list; partly due to protocols of the centralised Czech film industry, and also due to the fact that she was 'banned' from working in film after 1970. Fantastic interview in Antonin Leihm's "The Politics Of Culture" (Grove Press, 1971). I think the photo above dates from sometime circa. 1969; ie, round about when she was working on Valerie & Her Week Of Wonders & We Eat The Fruit Of The Tree Of Paradise. She was the 'secret collaborator' and catalytic genius of the Czech new wave.

Prague: day 3 - meeting Vera Chytilova

... dashed back to town (from the national film archives) to met with Vera Chytilova: she, introducing a special screening of Daisies at the FAMU. Her first viewing of the film in more than a decade, & afterwards she spoke for maybe an hour an a half about the film, ethical imperatives for artists, etc. Not huge in physical stature, by any stretch, but advancing years have not diminished her unrepentant feistiness. A peak moment!