Jan NettigThe esteemed Slovakian film director and actor passed away on Sunday evening. Born in Kežmarok, Czechoslovakia in September 1934 to Jewish parents, Herz rose to prominence as one of Czechoslovakia’s most celebrated directors. Apart from directing, he also ventured into acting, scenic designing, and television direction.
A holocaust survivor, Mr. Herz made his directorial mark with the 1969 film “The Cremator” (Spalovač mrtvol), a Czechoslovakian New Wave horror-comedy adapted from a novel by Ladislav Fuks. This film is frequently hailed as one of Czechoslovakia’s finest cinematic achievements.
In 1971, he further solidified his reputation with the drama “Oil Lamps” (Petrolejové lampy), which was showcased at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival. Another notable work, the 1976 drama “Day for My Love” (Den pro mou lásku), was featured at the 27th Berlin International Film Festival.
Slovak actor Andrej Hryc was the first to announce Mr. Herz’s passing and honored him with a heartfelt tribute on social media.
