Helena Třeštíková

Helena Třeštíková (born 22 June 1949) is a Czech documentary film director. She became known for making “time-lapse” long-term observational documentary films that won many awards. She briefly served as the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic. From 2017, she is also a university teacher.

Early life and education Helena Třeštíková was born Böhmová on 22 June 1949 in Prague. She grew up in a house at Wenceslas Square. She graduated from the high school in 1968, at the time of the Prague Spring. In summer 1968, she went to West Germany to work as an au-pair, to get praxis necessary to get accepted to the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU). In 1969, she visited Paris, which motivated her to become a film director.

Career

In 1969–1975, she studied documentary film at FAMU. He first film was Zázrak (1975) While searching for a topic for her work, she was interested in the development of human personalities and destinies over a long time horizon, so in 1980 she began filming Manželské etudy ("Marriage Stories") using the so-called time-lapse method, in which she followed the destinies of several married couples for six years. She also used this method to film her other documentaries (also following the fates of various people), which won many awards.

Selected works Her most successful documentary films include: He and Helena Třeštíková co-wrote two books on documentary film.

Politics Třeštíková was briefly the Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic. She resigned from the position in January 2007 after serving less than three weeks.

Decorations In 2024, Třeštíková was awarded by the Czech Republic's Medal of Merit (First Class) for services to the state in the field of culture.

In 2024, Třeštíková was also awarded by the France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for the spread of art and literature in France and around the world.