Jaromil Jireš

Jaromil Jireš, a mastermind of Czechoslovak New Wave cinema, was born in 1935 in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. His directorial career spanned from the 1960s to the late 1980s and he was well-known for exploring the genres of drama and fantasy, particularly in his most celebrated films "Valerie and Her Week of Wonders" and "The Joke", the latter earning him a nomination at the Berlin International Film Festival. Jireš, with his unique authorial style, was distinguished for incorporating surrealism and symbolism, often enveloped in a dream-like atmosphere, into his films. As a person, Jireš was a visionary, someone who dared to push boundaries and explore the uncharted territories of cinema, leaving an indelible mark on the world of film.