Keeping the Cameras Rolling Legendary Czech Film Studio Barrandov and 85 Years of Cinema By Anna West
Visitors on their way to Barrandov Studio, the largest film studio in the Czech Republic and one of the largest in Europe, may at first be struck by the impressive rock formations that surround the area. Located in the district of Hlubočepy in south-west Prague, the studio is set among fossil-rich cliffs overlooking the Vltava river. One can imagine it as a setting for an action film scene, with a stunt performer scaling the cliffside in pursuit of a villain. Perhaps it is fitting that the nearby sound stages of Barrandov Studio have served as the location for numerous Hollywood action thrillers, from Mission Impossible and The Bourne Identity to Casino Royale. More than 5,000 Czech and international productions have been created at the studio, including the recent Oscar winner Jojo Rabbit.
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Though the studio has been operational for more than 85 years, its exterior remains mostly unchanged since its construction in 1933. Barrandov’s history is closely connected to the Havel family, thanks to the business activities of the brothers Miloš Havel and Václav Maria Havel, the father of former Czech president Václav Havel. In 1921, Miloš created the A-B Joint Stock Company by merging his own American Film distribution company with Biografia film distributors. At the beginning of the 1930s, with his brother Václav, Miloš moved the original A-B Studios from a brewery in Vinohrady to facilities designed by Czech functionalist architect Max Urban.
Photos for this article were generously provided by the Barandov Studios archive.
