Birds, Orphans and Fools [screening + conversation w/ Magda Vášáryová]

This evening features a screening of Juraj Jakubisko’s landmark 1969 film Birds, Orphans and Fools (Vtáčkovia, siroty a blázni), followed by a conversation with acclaimed Slovak actress Magda Vášáryová, who stars in one of the defining roles of her early career. The discussion will be moderated by Christopher Small, curator of a forthcoming Czechoslovak retrospective at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and will explore the film’s turbulent history as well as Vášáryová’s remarkable journey from acting to diplomacy and public life.

Playful, provocative, and deeply unsettling, Juraj Jakubisko’s Birds, Orphans and Fools (Vtáčkovia, siroty a blázni) is one of the defining works of the Czechoslovak New Wave. The film follows two young men and Martha, played by Magda Vášáryová, who retreat from the realities of the outside world into a fragile universe of games, disguises, humor, and fantasy. Beneath its exuberant surface, however, lies a darker reflection on violence, broken ideals, and the fragility of freedom.

Written by Juraj Jakubisko and Karol Sidon and made in the turbulent aftermath of 1968, the film quickly became a casualty of the political climate of normalization. Banned by the communist regime for more than two decades, it did not return to wider public view until after the fall of communism. In 1990, it was presented at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it received the FIPRESCI Award.

The evening also offers a rare opportunity to meet Magda Vášáryová, one of the most celebrated Slovak actresses of her generation and one of the defining faces of Czechoslovak cinema. Following a distinguished acting career that included films such as Marketa Lazarová, Radúz and Mahulena, On the Comet, and Cutting It Short, Vášáryová entered public and diplomatic life after 1989, serving as Slovakia’s ambassador to Austria and Poland. Following the screening, she will join Christopher Small for a conversation about the film’s turbulent history, her work with Jakubisko, and her extraordinary journey from cinema to diplomacy and public life.

Christopher Small is a Prague-based writer and film programmer who has curated retrospectives for The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), MFF Cinematik, and Sheffield DocFest. He is also responsible for editorial and publications at the Locarno Film Festival and is the founder and publisher of Outskirts Film Magazine.

This event is organized by the Czech Center New York.

DISCLAIMER

Tickets and Admission: Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. All ticket sales are final. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the show starts; latecomers may be refused admission.

Media Recording Notice: By attending this event hosted by the Czech Center New York, you consent to being photographed and recorded. The Czech Center New York and its partners may use these images and recordings for promotional purposes.

Health and Safety: By attending this event at the Czech Center New York, you acknowledge and accept that participation is voluntary and at your own risk. The Czech Center New York is not responsible for any illness, injury, or other health-related issues that may arise before, during, or after the event. We encourage all guests to follow current health guidelines and act responsibly for their own safety and that of others.

Event venue & nearby stays

Bohemian National Hall, 321 East 73rd Street, New York, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

Get the app →

Discover more events by tag