The Foreigner's Guide to Living in Slovakia

Over the Christmas holiday there are always a slew of classic films to watch on TV. These movies are shown year after year, and it’s really just a matter of having a TV schedule on hand to make sure you catch the ones you want to see.

When I first moved to Slovakia, students would tell me what I shouldn’t miss. Over the years of spending Christmas holidays in Slovakia, the list has grown. Here’s a basic run down of the most popular film classics that are shown on Slovak TV through the Christmas season (fairytales are marked with a *):

Tři oříšky pro Popelku (1973) *
“Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella”, “Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel” in German.
The Cinderella story, based on the Czech fairytale version.
(Czechoslovakia/ West Germany, two original language versions: Czech and German)

Perinbaba (1985) *
“The Feather Fairy”, “Frau Holle” in German.
A story about a grandmotherly character Perinbaba whose lives in the clouds and whose role is to provide snow for the world along with her young assistant Jakub. Together they watch people’s lives on earth and their efforts to overcome troubles and win over death.
(Czechoslovakia/West Germany, original Slovak language)

Byl jednou jeden král (1955) *
“Once Upon A Time There Was A King”
Loosely based on the Czech fairytale Sůl nad zlato – “Salt Over Gold”. A king asks his tree daughters how much they love him. His youngest daughter Maruška who is the least materialistic says she loves him as much as salt, something that is indispensable in life. Her father is angered by her answer, banishes her from the castle, and forbids the use of salt in the kingdom. Maruška goes to live with a grandmother-like character that has magical powers and who creates mayhem back at the castle where there is no salt.
(Czechoslovakia, language-Czech)

Marečku, podejte mi pero! (1976)
“Marek, Pass Me the Pen!”
A comedy about adults who have to attend night school to obtain the necessary qualifications to continue working in their factory that is receiving new state-of-the-line machinery and equipment. The main character, Jiří Kroupa, is talked into attending night school by his employees because they want to keep him as their boss. The classes take place at the same school that Kroupa’s soon-to-be adult son attends. Soon after the classes start it’s clear that the son’s results are better than his father’s, which isn’t easy for the older Kroupa to swallow. Most of the humor in the movie is based on seeing adults in a school environment behaving and often being treated as if they were much younger.
(Czechoslovakia, language-Czech)

S tebou me baví svet (1982)
“With You I Enjoy the World”
Three dads take their six young children on their winter holiday to a cabin in the snow covered mountains. It’s a comedy on how they deal with the children without their wives around to help.
(Czechoslovakia, language-Czech)

Vesničko má středisková (1985)
“My Sweet Little Village”
A comedy about the lives of two workers of a cooperative municipality in the 1980s. Among them is Pávek, the driver of the cooperative dump truck, who in spite of all sorts of trouble, cannot bring himself to abandon his loyal, but mentally retarded assistant Otík. This film was nominated for and Academy Award in 1987 for best foreign film.
(Czechoslovakia, language-Czech)

Jánošík (1964)
The legendary story of the Slovak national hero, outlaw Juraj Jánošík, who fought on behalf of the poor Slovak people against titled landlords in the feudal Hungarian Empire.
(Czechoslovakia, language-Slovak)

Winnetou (1963-1969)
A series of films based on the books by famous German author Karl May. The main topics revolve around the deep friendship of Winnetou, an Apache chief, and his white settler companion and blood-brother, Old Shatterhand, who are both exemplary in standing together to keep the peace between Indians and immigrating white settlers.
(West Germany, filmed on location in Croatia. Czech dubbing)

One popular Christmas film that is not a Czechoslovak production but shown in Czechia and Slovakia, and possibly other Slavic nations at Christmas time is the following:

Mrázik (1964) *
“Father Frost”
A fairytale about the good-hearted Nastenka, her mean step mother and step sister, handsome Ivan who has to learn the lesson of finding value in things, a few evil witches and warlocks, and Father Frost who helps to bring Nastenka and the redeemed Ivan together.
(Soviet Union, Slovak dubbing)

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