Eva Jiřičná
The life story of a world-renowned architect, who is the queen of glass and steel. Directed by J. Chytilová.
A documentary portrait of a fragile woman of steel and the most prominent representative of Czech architecture. Her father was a significant architect in the Baťa Zlín. Initially, she wanted to become a chemistry professor, but at her father's request, Eva Jiřičná studied architecture at the Czech Technical University in Prague. In the summer of 1968, she goes to London for an internship, but the Czechoslovak authorities prevent her return, effectively forcing her to emigrate. Eva has no idea that she will not return for the next 22 years and will never see her beloved father again. In England, she suddenly finds herself alone and gradually works her way up to become one of the most prominent personalities in interior design and architecture. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, she returns to her homeland as a renowned architect, where no one knows her. Since the 1990s, her domestic works have gained wider recognition, eliciting strong and varied reactions. The documentary film presents the inner and artistic world of the architect, who is better known in the world than in her own country, alongside her doubts, joys, inspirations, incredible energy, and desire to create and be maximally relevant. It also reflects her personal and professional life. Filming took place in London, Brighton, Prague, and Zlín, in both London and Prague studios. The narrative of the documentary is framed by the life of Eva Jiřičná and the difficult life trials she had to endure. The film focuses on significant points in her life, whether they are her memories of her native Zlín, from where her family had to "flee", her involuntary emigration, finding her place in a male-dominated world, the inability to have her own family, relationship problems, creative crises, and setbacks, or her professional and personal return to her roots and passing on her experiences to the next generation. The approach to her unique architectural solutions will be presented proportionately, along with the use of all available visual materials – photographs, architectural plans, studio visualizations, excerpts from recorded documentaries. A holder of the Order of the British Empire, the State Prize for Architecture, and many other prestigious awards, she represents the pinnacle of world architecture.
A documentary portrait of a fragile woman of steel and the most prominent representative of Czech architecture. Her father was a significant architect in the Baťa Zlín. Initially, she wanted to become a chemistry professor, but at her father's request, Eva Jiřičná studied architecture at the Czech Technical University in Prague. In the summer of 1968, she goes to London for an internship, but the Czechoslovak authorities prevent her return, effectively forcing her to emigrate. Eva has no idea that she will not return for the next 22 years and will never see her beloved father again. In England, she suddenly finds herself alone and gradually works her way up to become one of the most prominent personalities in interior design and architecture. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, she returns to her homeland as a renowned architect, where no one knows her. Since the 1990s, her domestic works have gained wider recognition, eliciting strong and varied reactions. The documentary film presents the inner and artistic world of the architect, who is better known in the world than in her own country, alongside her doubts, joys, inspirations, incredible energy, and desire to create and be maximally relevant. It also reflects her personal and professional life. Filming took place in London, Brighton, Prague, and Zlín, in both London and Prague studios. The narrative of the documentary is framed by the life of Eva Jiřičná and the difficult life trials she had to endure. The film focuses on significant points in her life, whether they are her memories of her native Zlín, from where her family had to "flee", her involuntary emigration, finding her place in a male-dominated world, the inability to have her own family, relationship problems, creative crises, and setbacks, or her professional and personal return to her roots and passing on her experiences to the next generation. The approach to her unique architectural solutions will be presented proportionately, along with the use of all available visual materials – photographs, architectural plans, studio visualizations, excerpts from recorded documentaries. A holder of the Order of the British Empire, the State Prize for Architecture, and many other prestigious awards, she represents the pinnacle of world architecture.
The English translation is powered by AI tool. Switch to Czech to view the original text source.
0 comments
add comment
