Vladimír Smutný, an acclaimed Czech cinematographer whose distinctive visual storytelling helped shape some of the most celebrated films in Czech cinema, died Saturday night at his home at age 82. His wife confirmed his death to local media, saying he passed peacefully in the arms of his loved ones shortly before midnight on June 7.
The eight-time Czech Lion winner for best cinematography was behind the camera on the Oscar-winning film Kolya and more recently The Painted Bird, worked extensively with directors Jan Svěrák, Václav Marhoul and Karel Kachyňa throughout his distinguished career. His final completed work was the comedy The Last Aristocrat 2 (Aristokratka ve varu), directed by Jiří Vejdělek.
“His camera was always a distinctive co-creator of a film’s poetics,” Czech Minister of Culture Martin Baxa wrote on social media, characterizing Smutný’s cinematographic work as “unique and unmistakably telling its own storyline.”
A career spanning four decades of Czech cinema
Born into a family of photographers with an uncle who worked as a cinematographer on short films, Smutný studied cinematography at Prague’s prestigious Film and TV School of Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU). He began his career as an advertising photographer at Tesla Holešovice while simultaneously working at Krátký film, a state-run short film studio.
From the mid-1970s, Smutný worked at Barrandov Studio, initially as an assistant before shooting his first film as head cinematographer in 1982. During the 1980s, he worked behind the camera on notable films including The End of Berhof (Zánik samoty Berhof), Scalpel, Please (Skalpel, prosím), and The Death of the Beautiful Deer (Smrt krásných srnců, also known as Forbidden Dreams).
Following the 1989 Velvet Revolution, Smutný expanded his work to international productions, including the French television series Maigret, which filmed in Prague. His versatility and craftsmanship made him one of the most sought-after cinematographers in Central European cinema.
Smutný earned his reputation through an extraordinary body of work that garnered eight Czech Lions for best cinematography, awarded for Lea, Dark Blue World (Tmavomodrý svět), Smart Philip (Mazaný Filip), King of Thieves, Tobruk, Flower Buds (Poupata), Barefoot (Po strništi bos), and The Painted Bird.
He also received a Czech Lion for his extraordinary contribution to Czech cinematography and prestigious international recognition. In 2024, President Petr Pavel awarded him the Medal of Merit, First Class.
A legacy of visual excellence and mentorship
Director Václav Marhoul, who collaborated with Smutný on Tobruk and The Painted Bird, praised the cinematographer’s ability to give films an unmistakable signature. “Vladimír Smutný incredibly influenced my creative life, my entire visual understanding of film,” Marhoul told Czech News Agency. Their final collaboration was a music video for the band Chinaski titled I Hear Your Steps.
Jan Svěrák, who worked with Smutný on six films including Kolya and Empties (Vratné lahve), remembered him as “the last Mohican of the old Barrandov school.” The director emphasized Smutný’s passion for filmmaking and his approach as a servant of the story rather than seeking personal recognition.
“He loved filming, it was his only and main passion. That’s why he also taught it,” Svěrák said, noting that directors and actors appreciated Smutný’s non-exhibitionist approach and his ability to encourage cast and crew during production.
The cinematographer was particularly beloved by actresses, whom he would advise on their most flattering angles and lighting. “He knew how to light them so they would be even more beautiful. And they quickly understood that he was working in their favor, and they loved him,” Svěrák recalled.
Smutný continued working until the end of his life, maintaining his dedication to the craft that defined his career. His funeral will be held privately with family members only, according to Svěrák, speaking on behalf of the family.
