Věra Plívová-Šimková, the legendary Czech director known for her films for children and youth, will celebrate her 90th birthday on May 29, 2024. To mark the occasion, Czech Television will air the documentary "Věra Plívová-Šimková" on the station CT art, which offers a unique insight into her life and work. The documentary, directed by Anna Stichenwirth, brings together the memories of famous actors and collaborators, and recalls key moments in the career of this exceptional personality of Czechoslovak cinema.
"I have a theory that if one has had a happy childhood, one will also a happy life," says Jiří Lábus in the documentary "Věra Plívová-Šimková".
V Věra Plívová-Šimková, the iconic Czech director known for films such as "The Boys Who Were Lords", "Krakonoš a Skiing" and "Foxes, Mice and Hangman", will celebrate her 90th birthday on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. To mark this important event, Czech Television will broadcast a rerun of the documentary film titled "Věra Plívová-Šimková" on the station ČT art on May 29, 2024 at 20:15.
Documentary film "Věra Plívová-Šimková"
This original documentary by director Anna Stichenwirthová (*1995) offers an original and playful look at the life and work of one of the most important personalities of Czechoslovak and Czech cinema. "People with such a strong personality and artistic disposition as hers fascinate you because you can never meet too many of them in your life," says Jan Kraus in the documentary. "Simply a distinctive, unique, gifted woman with a beautiful character who will be a great role model for future directors," Iva Janžurová said in the film.
The documentary charts the director's creative career, the key milestones and memories that shaped her unique approach to children's heroes and work aimed at a young audience. It also chronicles her professional achievements, which were often redeemed by a challenging personal life. "It's not a conventional documentary, but a dramatic work," said dramaturge Marcela Pittermannová, who won the Czech Lion for outstanding contribution to cinema.
What to expect from the documentary
Watchers can look forward to exclusive interviews with Vera Plívová-Šimková and footage from her iconic films. In the documentary, prominent actors such as Iva Janžurová, Lenka Vlasáková, Veronika Freimanová, Jiří Lábus, Pavel Nový and Ondřej Havelka express their admiration. Also remembered are the child stars of the time (Jan Kraus, Magdalena Reifová, Michal Dymek and the gang from the film "Foxes, Mice and Gallows"), collaborators (Marcela Pittermannová, Eva Bobková, Karel Jaroš and Martin Benoni) and family members.
"It is rare that a documentary filmmaker exudes the same infectious enthusiasm as the hero of his film," wrote Mirka Spáčilová in her review for iDNES.cz. "However, it is not only the lady in front of the camera who deserves a compliment, but also the debuting documentary filmmaker Anna Stichenwirth. Her documentary debut has much in common with the legendary director's feature films, especially the purity, casualness, detachment, and heaps of emotion without sentimentality."
Legendary Film Scene
One of the most memorable moments in Vera Plívová-Šimková's work is the "engagement" scene from the film "Wow Boys", where Tomas (Michal Dymek) and Blanka (Magdalena Reifová) exchange a cinematic kiss. This scene, like so many others, is deeply etched in the hearts of the audience and proves the director's ability to create magical and authentic moments. After nearly 50 years, Michal Dymek and Magdalena Reifová have recreated this iconic scene in a documentary portrait.
About Věra Plívová-Šimková
Věra Plívová-Šimková was born on May 29, 1934 in Lomnica nad Popelkou. Winner of the Czech Lion for outstanding contribution to cinema (2019), she has dedicated her entire career to children's audiences. Among her most famous works are films such as "Páni kluci", "Lišáci, Myšáci a Šibeničák", "Krakonoš a lyžníci", "Jak se točí Rozmarýny" and "Přijela k nám pilgrimage". Her work is appreciated both here and abroad for its authentic portrayal of the children's world and ability to tell believable and moving stories. Her films appeal to audiences across generations and still love to return to them. "Everyone can be called a target audience here," said actor Pavel Nový.
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