Ivan Passer made only one feature film as director in Czechoslovakia, however, it is among the most highly rated pictures of its time. Ivan Passer was a close collaborator of Miloš Forman and together they belong to the representatives of the so called Czechoslovak New Wave. Czech Center New York will present the film Intimate Lighting during the evening with interpreter Helena Koutná on March 22, 2022.
The film Intimate Lighting (1965) is based on the screenplay by Ivan Passer, Jaroslav Papoušek and Václav Šašek, who are considered together with Miloš Forman the main representatives of the so-called Czechoslovak New Wave. The film is an interesting depiction of the life of its time and it presents in an unique way the interpersonal relationships among its characters. The film does not have a dramatic plot, it is based on a simple story instead. Two former conservatory classmates meet at a concert of an orchestra in a small town. One of them comes with his young girlfriend and is invited to the house of the other one, who is now the director of the local music school. The couple spends the weekend with his family, where they experience different situations. Both men share the memories of their youth as well as their views on music.
Similarly, like in the early films of Miloš Forman, also Passer is interested in the life of ordinary people and presents its protagonists in a casual, but at the same time in a very detailed way. And it is why the unassuming cinema gem is so much appreciated.
Although Ivan Passer only made one feature film as director in Czechoslovakia, the Intimate Lighting is among the most highly rated Czechoslovak New Wave pictures.
Ivan Passer was born in Prague and studied at grammer school in Poděbrady, where he met with Miloš Forman. He studied film at the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU) in Prague, from where he was expelled in 1957. Then he worked in various professions, however, participated in the preparation of Laterna Magica program for Expo 58. After the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, he emigrated to the US, where he is known for directing films such as Cutter's Way (1981) and Stalin (1992).
In 2006, he received the Czech Lion Award for his extraordinary contribution to Czech Cinema.
The Czechoslovak New Wave is a term used for the artistic trend in Czechoslovak filmmaking, which was also recognized internationally. Films that are considered part of this movement were presented at prestigious film festivals in Venice, Cannes or Mannheim, and also competed to win Oscars. Its representatives were Czechoslovak filmmakers who started making movies in the 1960s. The directors commonly included are Miloš Forman, Věra Chytilová, Ivan Passer, Pavel Juráček, Jiří Menzel, Jan Němec, Jaromil Jireš, Vojtěch Jasný, Evald Schorm, Hynek Bočan, Juraj Herz, Juraj Jakubisko and others.
The first film considered as one of this new film wave, introducing the modern film poetics, was the film The Sun in a Net by Slovak director Štefan Uher.
