Learning a foreign language is pretty easy and fun: you can use many different tools and apps, take online classes, hire a tutor…but what’s the most effective thing that will make your “textbook” Czech sound natural and teach you slang/colloquialisms? Czech movies!
I honestly think that movies, shows, podcasts, and YouTube channels are THE best things to help someone learn another language more effectively. You catch a lot of phrases (pretty much effortlessly), improve your listening skills and pronunciation in a fun way…and let’s not forget that you learn a lot about the Czech culture and lifestyle along the way.
Czech and American cinematography are very different and if you’ve never seen a Czech movie, you’ll probably be intrigued by a lot of things. First of all, yes, Czech movies exist. It’s a thing. I have been asked SO many times if we make movies and TV shows, and foreigners always seem surprised that Hollywood isn’t the only source of motion pictures.
Another “shocking” thing: Czech actors look like real people. Some of them are exceptionally attractive, yes. But most of them are just regular people (with pores and body fat). What else? The movies focus on the story. There are very little to no special effects. No Godzillas or zombies, explosions and superheros.
Are you interested? Then let’s dive right into this exciting topic. I’m honored to present to you ten of the most famous Czech movies!
Table of Contents
- Pelíšky – Cozy Dens (1998)
- Zahradnictví: Rodinný přítel, Dezertér, Nápadník – Family Friend, Deserter, Suitor (2017)
- S tebou mě baví svět (1983)
- Samotáři – Loners (2000)
- Kolja – Kolya (1996)
- Občanský průkaz – Identity Card (2010)
- Účastníci zájezdu – Holiday Makers (2006)
- Pane, vy jste vdova – You’re a Widow, Sir (1971)
- Čtyři vraždy stačí, drahoušku – Four Murders are Enough, Darling (1971)
- Obecná škola – The Elementary School (1991)
- Differences Between Czech and American Movies
- How CzechClass101.com Can Help You Learn Czech in a Fun Way
1. Pelíšky – Cozy Dens (1998)
This is a bittersweet (and FUNNY) story of two families. Sebkovi and Krausovi are celebrating Christmas, but things get a little messy. The teenage kids think their fathers are totally stupid, while the fathers (one of them is a RAF veteran, the other a high-ranking communist army officer) are sure their children are useless rebels.
Apart from being funny (in a quirky way), this movie offers some amazing insight into Czech family life, the communist era, and people’s values. It’s also one of the most watched Czech movies (especially around Christmas).
Quotes:
Učitelka a naprosto nepoučitelná!
“She’s a teacher, but she’ll never learn.”
Dávám bolševikovi rok. Maximálně dva.
“The bolsheviks won’t last more than a year. Maybe two years.”
Language:
There are a lot of words used in this film that a non-native wouldn’t know. Uncle Bolek Polívka (one of the most loved Czech actors) likes to call his brother, Miroslav Donutil (another Czech star), brašule, which is a play on words based on the Czech word bratr (“brother”) with a slight Russian flavor.
He also calls his niece and nephew mládežníci (“youngsters”), which is another made-up word.
Other than that, you’ll hear a lot of soudruhu/soudruzi (“comrade”/”comrades”). The pace is pretty brisk, so you might need to pause and rewind quite a few times—but it’s definitely worth it!
2. Zahradnictví: Rodinný přítel, Dezertér, Nápadník – Family Friend, Deserter, Suitor (2017)
Trailer:
This beautifully made prequel (by the same director, Jan Hřebejk) is a sweet melodrama set in the Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. Though it takes place during the most difficult of times, it’s not super-depressing. If you like a good love story, look no further.
With husbands “taken away,” the three sisters have to take care of themselves, their children, and their house. Luckily, they have a loyal family friend who helps them as much as he can. What happens when the war is over? Will all of the husbands return, and will they be greeted with joy? Will the family be able to reopen their business?
Quote:
Dávám bolševikovi dva roky. Maximálně tři.
“The bolsheviks won’t last two years. Maybe three years.”
Language:
This Czech drama is beautifully narrated and well acted, and it’s fairly easy to understand each character since they’re not “making little monkeys” (nedělají opičky – they’re not fooling around).
3. S tebou mě baví svět (1983)
This funny and heart-warming story is another Christmas/New Year’s classic. Three middle-aged men take their children to a cabin in the mountains and learn to cope with their needs without their wives. It should be easy breezy, right? Well, it’s not. This is an amazing feel-good movie, plus it was awarded a title as the best Czech comedy ever made.
Quotes:
Tati, a prdí taky hadi?
“Daddy, do snakes fart?”
Večeři máš v kuchařce na straně 43.
“Your dinner is in the cookbook, page 43.”
Language:
This isn’t an easy one, folks, but I’m sure you’re up for a little challenge. Let’s get out of that comfort zone, shall we? The characters speak the most common colloquial Czech, which means the endings of the words are sometimes “wrong”: bílej instead of bílý (“white”), jo instead of “yes,” lots of excited shrieks. Get ready. On the other hand, the vocabulary is very simple.
4. Samotáři – Loners (2000)
This Prague-based film explores relationships among groups of friends, as well as the subcultures of partying, music, and drugs that began to dominate Prague. There’s a memorable scene where a Czech family is treated as an attraction for Japanese tourists. This is a movie about young people for young people. Slightly dark. Slightly indie (including the soundtrack). Ivan Trojan, who plays the strange, troubled doctor, became a huge star after this movie was released, as did his fellow weirdo, Jiří Macháček.
Quote:
Vy ten život nežijete, vy ho jen krájíte!
“You don’t live your life. You just cut it up.”
Language:
It’s not going to be easy if you haven’t been around many native speakers, but you’ll get into it fast. This is exactly what will help you improve your listening skills and expand your Czech slang knowledge.
5. Kolja – Kolya (1996)
This bittersweet comedy about an old man who marries a young Russian woman to help her get a visa has an unexpected twist. Zdeněk Svěrák is a bachelor and womanizer whose life changes dramatically when he has to look after his new stepson, Kolya. Even though the two companions don’t even speak the same language, a bond forms between them. This might be one of the sweetest movies you’ll ever see.
Quote:
František, speaking to his new Russian stepson:
Čemodan. To je jediný, co umím. Protože mi ho v Moskvě na nádraží ukradli. Kradete kufry a cizí území.
“Čemodan. That’s the only Russian word I know because mine got stolen in Moscow. You guys steal suitcases and other people’s land.”
(This quote is a direct hint about the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.)
*Čemodan is a romanticized version of the Russian word чемодан, meaning “suitcase.”
Language:
This is a good movie to watch if you want to improve your listening skills. The vocabulary isn’t overly complicated, though the frequent Czech subtitles and Russian dialogues might make things a bit difficult.
6. Občanský průkaz – Identity Card (2010)
If you wonder what life before the Velvet Revolution was like, you should watch this Czech film. It tells the story of a group of fifteen-year-olds, their parents, and their hopes and plans for the future. Things are not always as they seem and people who appear coy are often the bravest.
Quote:
Je sice blbá, ale nezaslouží si i ta blbá trochu lásky? Mojí lásky?
“She is dumb. But doesn’t even a dumb girl deserve a little bit of love? My love?”
Language:
Again, nothing difficult, although the teenagers do talk fast sometimes and you might need to rewind a few times. The dialogues are a great example of colloquial Czech, making this one of the best movies for learning the Czech language.
7. Účastníci zájezdu – Holiday Makers (2006)
This satirical comedy, based on a novel by Czech author Michal Viewegh (check out his books if you’re interested in contemporary Czech novels), makes fun of the typical Czech tourist in Croatia. It will walk you through all the quirky “holiday traditions”—bringing your own food to make the vacation as cheap as possible, judging other people, and trying to be as conventional as possible. Anna Polívková (the daughter of Bolek Polívka mentioned above) is amazing, just like her movie mom, Eva Holubová. Both are very famous in the Czech Republic.
Quote:
Víš, jaký to je, být ošklivá holka?
“Do you have any idea what it’s like to be an ugly girl?”
Language:
This is another film that does a great job of portraying how real Czechs talk. The vocabulary is very simple, the Prague dialect is quite prominent, and the mixed-up endings might be confusing. Your Czech will level up a few notches after watching this movie!
8. Pane, vy jste vdova – You’re a Widow, Sir (1971)
This is an adorable, crazy, sci-fi comedy about the king’s cousin’s arm, artificial bodies, two gorgeous women, and one astrologist who is in love with one of them. A bunch of funny things happen in this movie, there are no blind spots, and it has a French feel to it. Iva Janžurová, who plays the lead character, is one of the most loved Czech actresses.
Quote:
Zavři oči, brouku!
“Close your eyes, babe!”
Language:
The vocabulary is fairly simple, and there’s no dialect or slang. That said, the pace and “little monkeys” are present, so…brace yourself and enjoy the ride!
9. Čtyři vraždy stačí, drahoušku – Four Murders are Enough, Darling (1971)
This is another great comedy from the 70s. The story takes place in a fictitious American town. George is a very shy literature professor whose students make fun of him and read comics during class. That night, a strange thing happens: A dead man knocks on George’s door…and the insecure teacher becomes a celebrity. This hilarious comedy isn’t as brutal and violent as it might sound. Give it a shot if you need a good laugh. Iva Janžurová and Jiřina Bohdalová are amazing, and Lubomír Lipský as “the beast” is adorable.
Quote:
Budete-li mít chuť někdy vraždit, jen přijďte, tady se vždycky někdo najde.
“If you ever feel like murdering someone, please visit us. There is always someone you can kill here.”
Language:
There’s no dialect and barely any slang. The vocabulary is pretty easy too. The gangster talk isn’t exactly beginner-friendly though, so you might need to pause or rewind throughout the film.
10. Obecná škola – The Elementary School (1991)
This gem takes place just weeks after WWII. The main character Eda has a new teacher, Jan Tříska, who is strict and implements very “unconventional” teaching techniques—but the boys love him. His only weakness? Beautiful women…such as the boy’s mom, Libuška Šafránková. This is a beautiful tale of childhood and hopes for a better future.
Quotes:
Nebij ho do hlavy, bude hloupej.
“Don’t hit him in the head. He’ll be stupid.”
The school principal invites the students’ parents for the play The Idiot by Dostoyevsky:
Kdo z rodičů chce vidět Idiota, nechť se dostaví do ředitelny.
“Should your parents want to see an idiot, they’re invited to come to the principal’s office.”
Language:
This movie is great for beginners. The language is clean, simple, and polished…almost elegant. There is a hint of Prague dialect, but I don’t think you’ll find it bothersome.
11. Differences Between Czech and American Movies
I put together a little list of things foreigners usually find surprising about Czech movies:
- “Christmas movies” don’t take place at Christmas—they’re mostly old classics or fairy tales. Check out the gorgeous Czech Cinderella; it’s the ultimate Czech Christmas movie of all time.
- There are a lot of Czech movies about communism and WWII focusing on regular people’s stories, the majority of which are comedies. If you like to cry, try Želary (“We need to help each other out”) or Musíme si pomáhat (Divided We Fall).
- No action movies or special effects. CGI is just not our thing.
- Fairy tales are well-loved by kids and adults alike.
- There are no cartoons like Shrek or Frozen. Our cartoons are short and mostly made for Večerníček—”bedtime stories” for children that air every day around seven p.m.
- You can find a lot of Czech movies and TV shows on Netflix and HBO (if you’re in the Czech Republic). If not, you can still watch A LOT of Czech movies on YouTube (without subtitles though).
Are you ready to make popcorn and enjoy a cozy night in? In case you prefer TV shows, don’t miss our list of the Top 10 TV Shows! And don’t forget that practice makes perfect: If your listening skills aren’t as good as you’d like, go back to the beginning and work on your Czech with our endless lessons for absolute beginners.
12. How CzechClass101.com Can Help You Learn Czech in a Fun Way
That’s it, guys! I hope you enjoyed this article on the best Czech movies for learning the language and learned something new! In case this wasn’t enough for you, please check out our Basic Bootcamp—all of the very basic grammar and vocab info you need in five compact lessons.
If you’re taking your Czech studies seriously and want to learn Czech fast, free, and online, you could grab a Czech grammar book or learn online (the latter of which is way more convenient). Seriously, learning a new skill has never been easier. Just grab your phone and get to work!
CzechClass101.com will make learning Czech easy, exciting, and fun. With us, it’s not about endless memorizing or thick textbooks. Learn Czech the better way—with us, you’ll make progress faster than you could imagine!
What can you find here?
- English-to-Czech translation and pronunciation tips/tricks
- Over 630 audio and video lessons
- Vocabulary learning tools
- Spaced repetition flashcards
- Detailed PDF lesson notes
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One last thing: Let us know in the comments which of these Czech movies you want to watch most, and why!
