Jaroslav Seifert: A Rhythm Outside Time

It took five years to complete director Pavel Štingl’s documentary film Jaroslav Seifert v rytmu bezčasí, about the only Czech to have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Often referred to by the public and critics as “the most beloved poet,” he captivated people not “only” with his verses, but also with his principles, which made him a moral icon of the Czech nation in the 20th century. The film is the very first feature-length feature film about Seifert. It showcases not only chapters of Seifert’s work but also the story of the entire past century as seen through the literary world, the poet’s bohemian circles, and the literary cafés and wine bars as they evolved through times both good and bad.