This is the first study in English to link Czech and Slovak films of the pre-and post-war periods with developments in contemporary cinema. It examines the political and cultural factors - rule by the Habsburg Empire, independence in 1918, Nazi occupation and Soviet domination, and the eighteen years since the 'Velvet Revolution' - that have shaped typical themes and approaches to film making.Key features are analyses of:The key stylistic and thematic tendencies, focussing on comedy and lyricismThe political role of film, with particular emphasis on the period of the Prague SpringThe continuing influence of the Surrealist tradition in the feature film and on the living tradition of the animated filmRepresentations of the Holocaust in films produced during the Communist period and more recentlyThe work of a wide range of directors, including: Martin Fric, Miloš Forman, Vera Chytilová, Jirí Menzel, Jirí Trnka, Karel Zeman, Jan Švankmajer, Jan Sverák and Petr Zelenka