Miroslav Janek

Motivation

The persuasiveness of Miroslav Janek's oeuvre, who began his career in the former Czechoslovakia at the tender age of fifteen, lies in his attention to the margins of society. He addresses it repeatedly with deep respect and spontaneous narrative sense. The themes of Janek's works, sometimes strikingly dramatic, are subjected to a process of de-spectacularization, contrary to what today's viewers are accustomed to seeing and accepting. The blind, orphans, Roma, or individuals considered "different" due to special artistic talents or significant roles in society (such as former Czech President Vaclav Havel) are, without any rhetoric and with refined narrative sobriety, brought to a level that the viewer recognizes as their own, making the concept of "difference" unclear and questionable. The diversity of authorial roles Janek performs (director, screenwriter, editor, cinematographer), including his collaborations with authors on the international stage as well as his co-authorships, confirms that he is a complete film author who prefers to focus on evaluating social content rather than mere self-assertion.

Filmography and other experiences

2016 Normal Autistic Film, doc., '90, Director, writer
2015 Filmova lazen, doc., Director, writer
2014 Evangelium podle Brabence, doc., '90, Director, co-writer (with Renata Kalenská)
2014 Olga, doc., '87, Director, writer
2012 Umanutá, doc., '59, Director, co-writer (with Daniela Gébová)
2010 For Semafor, doc., 83', Director, writer
2008 Zpoved Kateryny K., doc., 57', Director, writer
2008 Občan Havel, doc., 120’, Co-director (with Pavel Koutecký)
2005 Chačipe, doc., 57’, Director, cinematographer
2005 Vierka aneb záhada zmizení rodiny B., doc., 77’, Director, cinematographer
2002 Naqoyqatsi, doc., 90’, Editor (r. Godfrey Reggio)
2001 Nachové plachty, doc., 80’, Director, cinematographer
2000 Bitva o život, doc., 88’, Co-director (with Vit Janecek and Roman Vávra), cinematographer
1996 Cosmic voyage, IMAX film, 40’, Editor (r. Bayley Silleck)
1996 Nespatrˇené, doc., 53’, Director, cinematographer
1995 Evidence, doc., 10’, Editor (r. Godfrey Reggio)
1991 Anima mundi, doc., 30’, Editor (r. Godfrey Reggio)
1990 Medicine fiddle, doc., 82’, Cinematographer, editor (r. Michael Loukinen)
1989 Old explorers, 90’, Editor (r. Bill Pohlad)
1987 John Huston and The Dubliners, doc., 60’, Editor (r. Lilyan Sievernich)
1987 Powaqqatsi, doc., 96’, Co-editor (r. Godfrey Reggio)
1983 Visitor, 23’, Director, editor