Jennifer Lemminger

10/15/2015
Red Czechoslovakia
The British Broadcasting Corporation, also known as BBC, presented the series The Lost
World of Communism in March of 2009. Part 2 was an in depth look into the history of
communist Czechoslovakia and how it affected the people of the region. The documentary gives
varying perspectives of the events during those turbulent times. The filmmaker takes the time to
interview influential artists of the time like Vojtech Jasny and Marta Kubisova, as well as, others
like Jana Horakova, daughter of Milada Horakova, and Maria Korshiova. The film explores
many of the important events of Czechoslovakia after World War II until the Velvet Revolution,
which freed Czechoslovakia from Communist rule.
BBC presents the topic in a negative way. The narrator uses wording like regime while
describing Communist rule. Although, that may just be a side effect of the Western societies
view of Communism. However, the filmmaker does interview individuals positive points of
view from Czechoslovakias Communist chapter. Maria Korshiova would be one of those
individuals. Her life was profoundly influenced by collective agriculture. Prior to the influences
of the Soviet Union her village did not have any diesel columbines. All agricultural work had to
be done by hand. For her and those of her village collectivization was a blessing. Maria remised
that back then the workers were always provided for, but now that Communism was dead, the
government does nothing for the worker. However, she admitted that she was a member of the
Communist Party but knew nothing of the politics.

For this glimpse of positivity, there has been a slew of negative reflections that match the
tragic and traumatizing events that plagued Czechoslovakia during the Communist age. After the
Communist Coup in 1948, Czechoslovakia was more officially subjected to the control of the
Party and the Soviet Union. The filmmaker interviews the daughter of one of the victims of the
1950 Stalinist Trials, Milada Horakova. Milada Horakova was the only woman officially
convicted of crimes and put to death during these trials. Jana Horakova carries her mothers
memories with a heavy heart. Jana speaks of how the trials were meant to strike terror and
fear into the citizens of Czechoslovakia. The trials were scripted. The accused were required to
follow a script, where after, torture they admitted to their crimes and that the Party was acting
justly. During these public trials, Milada was the only accused who refused to follow the script.
Evidence against her and others was manufactured, which led to many Czechs believing in the
validity of the trials. This interview showed how deeply Communist control affected many
individuals. It was heart-wrenching to watch poor Jana read her mothers final words, which she
did not receive until after Communist control. It really reinforced the underlying negative tone of
the documentary, as well as, recounting the accuracy of events.
The government did not stop at these trials. They even controlled the content of
documentaries. Vojtech Jasny directed a film that promoted agriculture collectives. This is where
the filmmakers introduced the viewers to the positive aspects Communism, which was somewhat
contradictory to the overall theme of the documentary. However, the Party stuck their paws into
this as well. Jasny, during his interview, told the interviewer of how the Party would only allow
the film to proceed if it featured the collective farms of rich farmers, like Stalin. The film was
also, not allowed to feature the brutal way Communism was enforced in the rural areas. This
level of control was paused several years later when Alexander Dumchek introduced the concept

of Communism with a face. This was Communism that also allowed the people of
Czechoslovakia to enjoy the freedom of the western market. It was referred to as The Prague
Spring. This time of freedom gave rise to stars like Marta Kubisova.
Marta Kubisova, also, became censored by the Soviet Union. In 1968, the Soviets
invaded Czechoslovakia under the Warsaw Pact. Kubisova spoke of how when her mother burst
into her bedroom informing her of the invasion that she wondered why it was a big deal. She
thought it was the Americans invading and that it was not a big deal. It was not until shortly after
she found out that it was the Soviets that she understood that the Party taught them that only the
Americans had the ability to occupy. After the invasion, Kubisova recorded a song in private.
That song became the anthem for freedom and she was banned from singing. The Soviets tried
to force to support normalization but she refused.
The Communist party and the Soviet Union could not relinquish control. They tried to
control every aspect of life at every level. The people of Czechoslovakia rebelled with
dissidence. Plastic People was a band who performed without a license at unsanctioned events at
unofficial venues. They did this for some time and eventually got arrested. One of the
individuals being interviewed said that they were not arrested because they were against the
Soviets but because they did what they wanted and the Soviets hated that. The arrest of the
Plastics led to the drafting of Charter 77 by Vaclav Havel and several others. Charter 77 sparked
a dissident movement. As the people of Czechoslovakia rebelled being control like this, the
Communists attempted to tighten their grip. It became a vicious cycle until the fall of
Communism and the expulsion of the Soviets between 1989 and 1990.
BBC presents this topic very well and seemingly honestly. They attempt to remain
unbiased, but negative implications can definitely be heard. Their attempt to show positive

points of view as well as negative points of view adds validity to their presentation of
Communist Czechoslovakia. The film is structured well and in an easy to follow manner. The
filmmaker uses interviews to give follow the timeline of events, as well as, providing distinct
perspectives on these important events. This documentary is highly informative, and provides
building blocks for understanding Czechoslovakian post-socialist culture.