State honors awarded to film director Jan Hřebejk by Petr Pavel on October 28 sparked sharp public criticism from lawmakers Filip Turek and Jindřich Rajchl, who targeted the director’s artistic record and recent political statements, according to tn.nova.cz.
Criticism from Lawmakers Over State Honors
Jan Hřebejk received the Medal for Merit from Petr Pavel during the national holiday ceremony. The award drew immediate pushback from lawmakers Filip Turek (AUTO) and Jindřich Rajchl (PRO, elected on the SPD ticket), who took to social media to question both the recognition and the director’s career.
“Until yesterday, I didn’t know who this Hřebejk was,” Turek wrote on the social media platform X, as reported by tn.nova.cz. Turek claimed the director’s work romanticizes the communist era and pointed to what he described as unacceptable public posts targeting various political figures.
Včera jsem byl vyznamenán dokonce několikrát👌🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/oKLmUoaaFI
Turek and Rajchl Criticize Hřebejk's Social Media Posts
The posts cited by Turek included criticisms directed at former President Miloš Zeman, ministers Oto Klempíř (AUTO) and Petr Macinka (AUTO), Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Tomio Okamura (SPD), as well as Turek and Rajchl themselves. Turek maintained that these statements are recent, genuine, and easily verifiable.
Rajchl joined the critique on Facebook, focusing heavily on Hřebejk’s cinematic output over the past two decades. “Jan Hřebejk hasn’t shot a single half-solid film in the last 20 years,” Rajchl wrote, accusing the director of moralizing in order to secure state funding for what he termed terrible trash.
Filmography and Response to Critics
Jan Hřebejk is the director behind well-known Czech films including Pelíšky (Cosy Dens), Horem pádem (Up and Down), and Musíme si pomáhat (Divided We Fall). Over his career, he has won the Czech Lion award three times and earned one Academy Award nomination.
Responding to the criticism, the 59-year-old director shared Rajchl’s post on X with a brief reaction. “I was honored several times yesterday,” Hřebejk wrote.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Hřebejk Honors Dispute
What specific award did Jan Hřebejk receive?
Petr Pavel awarded Jan Hřebejk the Medal for Merit during the October 28 state holiday ceremony.
Which lawmakers publicly criticized the director?
Filip Turek (AUTO) and Jindřich Rajchl (PRO, elected for SPD) criticized Hřebejk’s artistic work and public statements on social media platforms X and Facebook.
What are some of Jan Hřebejk’s most notable films?
His recognized directorial works include Pelíšky, Horem pádem, and Musíme si pomáhat, alongside three Czech Lion awards and an Oscar nomination.