Great Experimenters in Film: Black Petr

October 28, 2017, 4:30 PM

The National Gallery of Art will showcase director Miloš Forman's feature debut Black Petr (Černý Petr) on October 28, 2017, at 4:30 pm, opened by Director of the National Film Archive in Prague, Michal Bregant. Inspired by the vérité approach of Italian neorealism, Black Peter centers on a shy but sympathetic young store clerk who, assigned to apprehend shoplifters, lacks the nerve to confront anyone. Its warmth, ironic humor, and realism were a hit with viewers and, though criticized by the regime, the film was selected as the best picture of 1963 by Czech film critics. (Dir. Miloš Forman, 1963, 85 min., Czech with English subtitles)

Before coming to the United States, Miloš Forman received international acclaim as one of the leaders of the Czechoslavak New Wave, a movement that included some of the most attractive films produced in Europe at that time.

Event Details:

Date: October 28, 2017, at 4:30 pm
Location: National Gallery of Art
East Building Auditorium
4th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565

Admission is free. | No reservations are required.

Photo courtesy of the National Film Archive (NFA) in Prague