Elmar Klos

Czech Ján Kadár (1918–1979) and Slovak Elmar Klos (1910-1993), the long-term directing duo who shot eight features together between 1952 and 1969, are a relative rarity in the world of filmmaking. Their first efforts were marked by period schematism but by the end of the 50s they began positing a more intimate style of narrative marked by a sensitive psychological depiction of character. Their sober realism, emphasizing the credibility of everyday heroes and the situations they live through, reached a climax with the Oscar-winning Shop on the High Street (1965) with its mature sense of tersely dramatic story construction. The events of 1968 intruded on their joint creative career, with Kadár emigrating to Canada and the USA where he shot two more pictures, while at home Klos was forbidden from engaging in any further professional activity.

50. MFF Karlovy Vary