Jan Svěrák

Directing

Jan Svěrák

Born February 6, 1965 · Žatec, Protektorát Čechy a Morava [now Czech Republic] (age 61)

Jan Svěrák (Czech pronunciation: [ˈjan ˈsvjɛraːk]) (born 6 February 1965 in Žatec) is a Czech film director. He is the son of screenwriter and actor Zdeněk Svěrák. He studied documentary filmmaking at FAMU. He and his films have received many awards, including the Academy Award, Crystal Globe, Golden Globe Award, and Tokyo Grand Prix. He lives in Prague. Description above from the Wikipedia artic…

Known For

KolyaKolya · 1996
Kolya
★ 7.41996
MovieDramaComedy
After a fictitious marriage with a Russian emigrant, Cellisten Louka, a Czech man, must suddenly take responsibility for her son. However, it’s not long before the communication barrier is broken between the two new family members.
KookyKooky · 2010
Kooky
★ 6.72010
MovieFamilyAdventure
Young Ondra has asthma and so his parents throw away his favourite toy: a musty old stuffed bear named Kooky. That night Ondra dreams that Kooky is determined to find his way back home from the dump. In the boy's fantasy, the bear gets lost in a forest occupied by strange animals and remarkable beings that he never heard of while living on the toy shelf in Ondra's room. And of course even in this small imaginary world, true good exists as does real evil, which Kooky must face up to in order to become a real hero.
Dark Blue WorldDark Blue World · 2001
Dark Blue World
★ 6.92001
MovieActionDrama
Lt. Franta Slama is a top pilot in the Czech Air Force who is assigned to train a promising young flier, Karel Vojtisek, and they soon become friends. When Nazi Germany invades Czechoslovakia in 1939, they both reject the authority of their new leaders and escape to England where they join other Czech exiles in the RAF. While flying a mission over England, Karel crash lands and happens upon the farmhouse of Susan, a young woman whose husband is in the Navy. Karel soon falls head over heels for Susan but, while they enjoy a brief fling, in time Susan decides she prefers the company of the older and more worldly Franta. As Franta and Karel struggle to maintain their friendship despite their romantic rivalry.
The Elementary SchoolThe Elementary School · 1991
The Elementary School
★ 7.31991
MovieComedyDrama
The time is 1945-46. 10 year old Eda and his friend Tonda live in a small village outside Prague. In school, their class is so wild and indisciplined that their teacher quits and is replaced by the militant Igor Hnidzo. He is very strict – but also very fair. His weakness though, is his interest in young women.
EmptiesEmpties · 2007
Empties
★ 6.82007
MovieComedy
Czech literature teacher Josef Tkaloun, who is past retirement age, realises one day that he no longer understands his pupils, and so he quits… dramatically. What he does not predict is that in doing this he will lose his sense of place in society.
Three BrothersThree Brothers · 2014
Three Brothers
★ 6.62014
MovieFamilyComedy
Three brothers leave their home to see the world. During their journey, young men as by miracle enter into famous fairy tales (Little Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Twelve Months) and face traps, unexpected moments and even love in a story full of humor and songs.
Oil Gobblers
NEW
Oil Gobblers · 2026
Oil Gobblers
2026
MovieDocumentary
A zoologist and a biochemist go out into an oilfield with a cameraman and filmmaker to observe and study the elusive oil gobblers.
FAMU 80 – Best of
NEW
FAMU 80 – Best of · 2026
FAMU 80 – Best of
2026
MovieDocumentaryAnimation
This series of short films offers a representative cross-section of the work produced at this famous Prague film school over the course of its 80-year history.

Filmography

Sort
An Ambiguous Report About the End of the WorldAn Ambiguous Report About the End of the World · 1997
An Ambiguous Report About the End of the World
★ 6.71997
MovieMysteryFantasy
Set over a two-decade period in a tiny Central European village, this drama not only chronicles a couple's tragic star-crossed love, it also serves as a metaphor for the tragedy of lost traditions. After opening in the snowy wilds as two people spectacularly die, the story jumps back 20 years as young Verona prepares to marry. Unfortunately, voracious wolves descend upon the ceremony and all but Verona and her courageous 10-year-old brother-in-law Goran, who saves her, perish. That day, Verona gives birth to Veronika and promptly betroths her daughter to the heroic Goran. A decade passes and on Veronika's 10th birthday, her engagement to Goran is formally announced at a big party. Festivities halt when a troupe of female circus performers and their sly employer Madina show up. Veronika soon finds herself more interested in Madina's young son Michal than she is in the adult Goran. Meanwhile, the worldly Madina attempts to adjust to life in an old-fashioned village.
Válka barevVálka barev · 1995
Válka barev
★ 6.71995
MovieDrama
Young photographer Ondřej's hobby revolves around flying ultralight aircraft. During one such flight, he spots two men at a lonely villa, one of whom is shooting at the other. He manages to photograph the scene, but is spotted in the process. Before he can develop the film, it is accidentally destroyed. Shortly thereafter, he meets a sad model named Viktorie and a wealthy businessman named Walter Rychman at a rock club, who offers him a job. Upon his return, he discovers that someone has searched his studio and soon realizes that Walter was the one who fired the shots. Although the businessman claims it was paintball, he asks Ondřej for the negative, and when the photographer tells him he doesn't have it, he threatens him. Ondřej decides to get to the bottom of the mystery and embarks on an investigation on his own. However, he becomes increasingly entangled in a confusing game that is difficult to navigate.