Marking the 80th anniversary of WWII, this special screening pays tribute to the courage and sacrifice of all Czechoslovak soldiers who fought for freedom, particularly those who served in the UK. Based on Filip Jánský’s novel—drawn from his real-life experiences as Czech RAF gunner Richard Husmann and inspired by František Truhlář, a No. 311 Squadron gunner who later became a fighter pilot—the film offers a gripping and deeply personal portrayal of wartime aviation.
Shot in stark black and white, Riders of the Sky depicts true historical events through the eyes of a fictional multinational bomber crew from the RAF’s No. 276 Squadron: a Slovak captain, Pavel; an English co-pilot and navigator; a Canadian radioman; and two Czech gunners, nicknamed Student and Shorty. Air strikes on German territory become a daily yet perilous routine, and it is during an attack on Nuremberg that Student is grievously injured. Featuring authentic aerial footage and a haunting score, including Ghost Riders in the Sky, the film is both a thrilling war drama and a poignant homage to the unsung heroes who risked everything in the fight against tyranny.
Banned in Czechoslovakia after the 1968 Soviet invasion, Riders of the Skyremains one of the most compelling and authentic cinematic portrayals of Czech RAF veterans and their remarkable legacy.
Jindřich Polák, Czechoslovakia 1968, 92 min
Cast: Jiří Bednář, Jiří Hrzán, Svatopluk Matyáš, Elsie Randolph, Jana Nováková, Joan Seton
Organised in partnership with Memorial Association for Free Czechoslovak Veterans.
