DEEP DIVE: Czechoslovak New Wave: Part 1

*This is a watch at home, discuss in person event. For Part 1 of our Czechoslovak New Wave Deep Dive, we'll explore how, in the 1960s, a new generation of Czechoslovak filmmakers challenged convention with dark humor, absurdity, surrealism, and biting social satire. Closely Watched Trains follows a young railway apprentice whose sexual awakening unfolds against the backdrop of Nazi occupation. Daisies follows two young women on a gleefully anarchic rebellion against social conventions. The Firemen's Ball transforms a small-town celebration into a disastrous comedy of incompetence, vanity, and corruption. Together, these films capture the wit, irreverence, and creative experimentation of the Czechoslovak New Wave, before the Soviet-led invasion of 1968 ushered in an era of increasing censorship and political repression. We will meet to discuss our thoughts on Wednesday, November 18, at Schoolyard Beer Garden. Please watch the comments for our exact location. Also, please try to watch all three before attending. Here is the list of films with instructions on how to find them. CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS (1966, Jiří Menzel, Czechoslovakia)* At a small railway station in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, young Miloš Hrma is less concerned with the war than with his own sexual inexperience. Surrounded by eccentric coworkers, petty dramas, and everyday routines, he struggles to navigate the awkward transition into adulthood as history unfolds around him. Adapted from Bohumil Hrabal's novel, Jiří Menzel's film finds humor and humanity in ordinary lives while gradually revealing the darker realities of occupation and resistance. With its understated comedy, gentle observations, and unexpected emotional weight, Closely Watched Trains offers an unconventional perspective on coming of age during wartime. Watch on Criterion Channel [DAISIES](https://boxd.it/LZk) (1966, Věra Chytilová, Czechoslovakia) Two young…