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Czech puppetry

A (Nationalist) Puppet on a String

Puppeteering in Bohemia preserved the Czech culture and language, preventing both from being wiped out by Hapsburgs who pushed for the Germanization of the Czech lands. Puppetry鈥檚 been practiced in Bohemia for centuries, beginning in the 16th century, used for religious and folk ceremonies. Not only has Czech puppeteering protected Czech identity in during the Hapsburg era, but also into the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Nazis.

Ji艡铆 Trnka: The Father of Czech Cinema

The so-called 鈥淲alt Disney of Eastern Europe,鈥 Ji艡铆 Trnka began his career as an illustrator, his life soon culminating into sophisticated puppetry on film. His usual subject matter involved his puppeted takes on classic fairy tales and tales he crafted which feature profound narratives, some of which satirized his own government. His career culminated in his film The Hand, where the importance of the hand is placed above all else.