These two films by Vojtěch Jasný, one of Czechoslovak cinema's most renowned and influential film artists, tell deceptively simple tales of rural life.
Desire (Touha, 1958), a lyrical film poem beautifully shot across four seasons, represents the eternal cycle of human life from birth to death. A key film in the evolution of Czechoslovak cinema, Second Run present Desire for the first time anywhere on Blu-ray.
1959 Cannes Film Festival / Winner: Special prize, Prix de la meilleure sélection
“After long years of deliberate stifling of form, Desire resurrected in Czech cinema the film poetry once upon a time introduced to it by Rovenský, Frič, Vančura, and Vávra” Jan Žalman, Films and Filmmakers
All My Good Countrymen (Všichni dobří rodáci, 1968) made a decade later, weaves together the stories of a group of friends whose lives reflect the seismic political changes in post-war Czechoslovakia.
One of the wonders of the Czech New Wave, this autobiographical masterpiece, made with deep affection for corruptible, flawed humanity, is a potent reminder of the lives, friendships and idealism lost under totalitarian rule.
Presented from a glorious new 4K restoration, All My Good Countrymen makes its world premiere on Blu-ray.
1969 Cannes Film Festival / Winner: Best Director; Winner: Jury Prize
“An historic film for both its extraordinary poetic and social qualities and its position as the masterpiece of Vojtěch Jasný” New York Times
Blu-ray 2-disc Special Edition features:
• Two-disc Blu-ray Special Edition.
• All My Good Countrymen presented from an HD transfer of the new 4K restoration by the Czech National Film Archive.
• Desire presented from a new HD transfer by the Czech National Film Archive.
• Vojtěch Jasný introduces All My Good Countrymen (2015).
• It's Not Always Cloudy (Není stále zamračeno, 1949): Jasný’s rediscovered feature-length semi-documentary graduation film,
co-directed by Karel Kachyňa.
• Bohemian Rhapsody (Česká rapsodie, 1969) : Jasný’s acclaimed short film.
• Interview with Vojtěch Jasný (1988): an archival interview with the celebrated filmmaker made for the Channel 4 television
series The Other Europe.
• An interview with actor Drahomíra Hofmanová (2015).
• Peter Hames on Vojtěch Jasný (2015).
• A Projection Booth audio commentary on All My Good Countrymen with Mike White, Spencer Parsons and Chris Stachiw.
• Booklet featuring an expansive new essay on Jasný and the films by author Peter Hames.
• New and improved English subtitle translations.
• Reversible sleeve.
• World premieres on Blu-ray.
• Region Free (A/B/C) Blu-rays.
