Language/Slovak/Culture/Slovak-Film-and-Literature
Hello and welcome to Unit 9 of the Complete 0 to A1 Slovak Course! In this lesson, we will be exploring Slovak culture through the art forms of film and literature.
Slovak Film
Slovakia has a rich history of filmmaking, with an industry that dates back to the early 1920s. Over the last century, there have been many notable Slovak filmmakers who have contributed greatly to this field, including Juraj Jakubisko, Dušan Hanák, and Peter Solan.
One of the most famous Slovak films is Obchod na korze (The Shop on Main Street), which was directed by Ján Kadár and Elmar Klos and won the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards in 1966. The film tells the story of a Slovak carpenter who is appointed 'Aryan controller' of an elderly Jewish widow's button shop during the Nazi occupation of Slovakia and struggles with the moral implications of his position.
Other notable Slovak films include:
- Slovensko 2.0 (2014), directed by Pavol Barabáš, which explores the beauty of Slovak nature and landscapes in stunning detail.
- Zbojnícky Tanec (The Outlaw's Dance, 1989), directed by Martin Ťapák, which tells the story of the famous Slovak outlaw Juraj Jánošík.
- Kúzelník (The Magician, 1958), directed by Dušan Vukotić, which tells the story of a young boy who discovers that his uncle is a magician.
Slovak Literature
Slovak literature has a long and rich history that dates back to the 9th century, with the oldest known Slovak text being the Codex Suprasliensis. Over the centuries, many great writers have emerged from Slovakia, including the following:
- Ján Bocatio, who authored the first printed book in Slovak, a translation of the New Testament in 1583.
- Ján Hollý, who is considered one of the most important Slovak poets of the 19th century.
- Martin Kukučín, who wrote novels and short stories that are still widely read today, including his most famous work,The Inheritance.
In more recent times, some of the most notable Slovak writers include Milan Kundera, Dominik Tatarka, and Ľubomír Feldek. Kundera is perhaps the most internationally famous Slovak writer, having written several acclaimed novels, including The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
If you're interested in exploring Slovak literature further, here are a few works that are worth checking out:
- Obrazy z dňa mŕtvych (Pictures from the Dead Day), a collection of short stories by Ladislav Mňačko.
- Nezvestný (The Missing), a novel by Jozef Cíger Hronský that tells the story of a young boy who goes missing during World War II.
- Dotyky a spojenia (Touches and Connections), a collection of poetry by Pavol Janík.
I hope you enjoyed learning about Slovak film and literature in this lesson. By exploring artistic expression in Slovak culture, we deepen our understanding of Slovak history and society as a whole.
Related Lessons
- Slovak Music
- Regions of Slovakia
- Slovak Folk Tales and Legends
- Slovak Traditions and Customs
- Slovakia Timeline
- Slovak Nature
- Slovak History
- Slovak Food and Drink
- Slovak Art