Filmmaker Zdeněk Podskalský shaped Czech comedy and musical film history over a career that spanned decades before his death at age 70, cnn.iprima.cz reported 33 years after his passing on Oct. 29.
Podskalský directed enduring Czech films and television specials
Podskalský built a lasting legacy in Czech cinema through enduring titles including Světáci, Bílá paní, Noc na Karlštejně, Drahé tety a já, and Kam čert nemůže. Beyond theatrical releases, cnn.iprima.cz reported that he directed numerous television productions, music and entertainment programs, and traditional New Year’s Eve television specials.
The Decades-Long Partnership With Jiřina Jirásková
While married to translator Tamara, Podskalský maintained a nearly thirty-year relationship with actress Jiřina Jirásková, who frequently starred in his projects, cnn.iprima.cz reported. In 1969, Jirásková became pregnant with his child, but underwent an abortion after Podskalský stated he would not divorce his wife. Helena Šimáčková, then a dramaturg at the Vinohradské divadlo, recalled in the book Jiřina Jirásková: Jen to klidně napište that Jirásková argued with theater artistic director František Pavlíček because she wanted to delay a premiere due to the pregnancy, shouting that Podskalský refused to leave his wife. Šimáčková noted that Jirásková viewed the pregnancy as leverage against her married partner, stating that keeping the child might have secured a better quality of life for the actress in her later years.
Reasons Behind the Refusal to Divorce
Podskalský declined to dissolve his marriage due to multiple factors, including concerns that his wife, of Russian origin, might be deported back to the Soviet Union following a divorce, cnn.iprima.cz reported. He also had a son, Zdeňka, with his wife; the younger Zdeňka followed his father’s path into film as a director, documentarian, and screenwriter. Despite the refusal to marry, Jirásková respected and loved Podskalský until her death, remaining single after he passed away in October 1993. In a final interview with Lidové noviny, Jirásková reflected that she never cared if Podskalský was entirely faithful because she knew they would never abandon each other, adding that both her first husband Jiří Pleskot and her lifelong partner Podskalský remained with her in memory.
Why did Jiřina Jirásková terminate her pregnancy?
Why did Jiřina Jirásková not keep her pregnancy in 1969?
Jiřina Jirásková terminated her pregnancy after Zdeněk Podskalský informed her that he would not divorce his wife, despite the pregnancy. Theater colleagues recalled that the actress initially viewed the child as a way to persuade her married partner to leave his wife.
What were Zdeněk Podskalský’s most famous film projects?
His notable cinematic works include Světáci, Bílá paní, Noc na Karlštejně, Drahé tety a já, and Kam čert nemůže, alongside extensive work on television variety specials.
Did Zdeněk Podskalský’s son follow him into the film industry?
Yes, his son Zdeňka pursued a career in film and television, working as a director, documentarian, and screenwriter.
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