Bohemia-born director Karel Zeman (1910–89) was a pioneer of movie special effects whose work is little known outside the Czech Republic. This fascinating museum, established by his daughter, reveals the many tricks and techniques he perfected, and even allows visitors a bit of hands-on interaction – you can film yourself on your smartphone against painted backgrounds and 3D models.
Zeman's inventive use of animation and matte paintings combined with live action – seen in films such as Cesta do pravěku (Journey to the Beginning of Time ; 1955) and Baron Prášil (The Fabulous Baron Munchausen ; 1961) – influenced more famous directors including George Lucas, Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam (who remade The Adventures of Baron Munchausen in 1988).
