Production is underway in Prague on Lady Dermacol, a new Czech period drama inspired by the life of Olga Knoblochová, the woman credited with helping create the iconic Dermacol cover makeup that became one of Czechoslovakia’s best-known cosmetic products.
Directed by Vojtěch Moravec from a screenplay by Marek Epstein, the feature began principal photography in early July and will shoot through August at locations across Prague and central Bohemia. The film combines a historical biographical story with a behind-the-scenes look at the country’s film industry during the 1960s, when Barrandov Studio was enjoying one of its most influential creative periods.
A story linking Barrandov, beauty, and the Czech New Wave era
Rather than focusing solely on the creation of a famous cosmetic product, Lady Dermacol follows Knoblochová’s personal and professional journey during the cultural and social transformation of the 1960s. The filmmakers describe the project as a portrait of a pioneering woman who built a successful career in a field largely dominated by men while working at the intersection of science, cosmetics, and filmmaking.
Marika Šoposká stars as Knoblochová, while Martin Hofmann plays engineer Boublík, the Barrandov Studios chemist whose collaboration led to the development of the groundbreaking makeup. The ensemble cast also includes Natalia Halouzková, Štěpán Kozub, Alena Mihulová, Michal Dlouhý, Lenka Vlasáková, Diana Mórová, Sandra Nováková, Michal Isteník, Tomáš Dianiška, Natália Germáni, Marek Lambora, Filip Rajmont, Patricie Solaříková, Richard Genzer, and Zuzana Norisová.
The production revisits several notable locations and institutions from the period, including Barrandov Studio, the Institute of Medical Cosmetics, and the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. One sequence recreates the production of the 1966 musical comedy The Lady of the Lines (Dáma na kolejích), placing viewers inside one of the defining moments of Czech cinema’s golden decade.
Filming has also taken the crew to Králův Dvůr near Beroun, where sets representing a cosmetics salon, the historic Alfa cabaret, and Boublík’s apartment have been constructed. Additional scenes will be filmed throughout Prague, including the Adria Palace, which housed the Institute of Medical Cosmetics during the 1960s.
By intertwining the story of Dermacol’s creation with Prague’s thriving film industry, the production highlights how scientific innovation and filmmaking intersected during one of the country’s most creatively significant eras.
Large-scale period production recreates 1960s Prague
Lady Dermacol is one of the more ambitious Czech period productions currently in development, with nearly 30 shooting days, approximately 40 principal performers from the Czech Republic and abroad, and hundreds of extras participating throughout production.
The technical departments are playing a central role in recreating mid-1960s Czechoslovakia. Production designer Jan Vlček has transformed modern locations into period settings, while costume designer Michaela Horáčková Hořejší created hundreds of costumes inspired by the fashion of the decade. Makeup artist Monika Cabáková developed character transformations for the lead actors based on historical references.
Cinematographer Jan Drnek is overseeing the film’s visual style, while composer Ondřej Gregor Brzobohatý is writing the score. Editing will be handled by František Svěrák.
The project has been in development for several years under producer Miloš Remeň, who said principal photography marks the culmination of a long preparation process. Director Moravec has emphasized that the film aims to introduce audiences to a largely overlooked historical figure whose work achieved international recognition despite being developed behind the Iron Curtain.
Dermacol itself originated in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s as a highly pigmented cover makeup created for professional and medical use before becoming an internationally recognized cosmetic brand. By focusing on Knoblochová’s contribution, the film brings attention to a chapter of Czech industrial and cultural history that extends beyond cinema while remaining closely connected to Barrandov Studio and Prague’s filmmaking legacy.
Following filming through early August, Lady Dermacol is scheduled for release in Czech cinemas by distributor Falcon in July 2027. For international audiences interested in Prague’s screen industry, the production offers another example of how the city’s film heritage continues to inspire contemporary Czech filmmaking through stories rooted in its own cinematic past.
