Bohéma

Although a little hard to follow at first due to the number of characters, this is a really interesting treatment across the 1930s through the 1960s as an ensemble of people with ties to the Czech movie and theater worlds make their way (more or less successfully) through the radical changes imposed by world events often out of their control. They only have their own choices to make. Some characters make compromised choices and some make principled decisions. Some do a little of both. There are "winners and losers" all along the way and it makes for a fascinating look at how difficult life must have been in a time and place where so much was a question of what the fates would allow. Great photography and acting more than makes up for the subtitles.

This 6 part series can be found under the title ' Private Live or 'Bohemia' and is filmed in the Czech language. It is Hollywood in Prague during the Second World War and does a great job of showing the dilemmas of living under an oppressive occupying power. Shown in flash back from a Grandfather to grand daughter perspective it shows the third Reich's attempts to use the Prague film industry for propaganda and anti semetic agenda's. Mixed into this is the complicated romantic and familial relationships amongst the Czechoslovakian Film Industry. It adds historical context with the killing of Reinhard Heydrich though this not shown. It's easy to lose something in having to read subtitles but it still gives a big punch and tells a thought provoking tale covering corruption, homophobia and anti semitic policies of the German regime.