Jan Žižka (1955 film)

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Jan Žižka is a 1955 Czechoslovak historical drama directed by Otakar Vávra, and stars Zdeněk Štěpánek. It runs 102 minutes and is the second film in Vávra’s Hussite trilogy, following Jan Hus.

The story takes place in 1419–1420, after Hus’s execution, as Bohemia rises against papal authority and the new king Sigismund. A priest, Jan Želivský, and Hussite leader Jan Žižka help guide the rebellion. Wenceslas IV is pressured to crush the movement, bans public meetings, and orders weapons confiscated. In Prague, Žižka arms the poor and the rebels seize the New Town Hall to free prisoners, making Žižka a leader. Wenceslas dies, increasing the revolt, and Sigismund orders the nobles to suppress it. Prague is besieged, and rich merchants secretly betray the rebels by helping to take Prague Castle and Vyšehrad.

Žižka and priest Václav Koranda lead a group toward Tábor. On the road near Sudoměř they are ambushed, but the Hussites win the battle. The maid Johanka dies in the fighting, while the survivors reach Tábor to continue the struggle.

The film was shot in 1955 with historical and military advisers. Music was conducted by František Belfín, and Jiří Trnka designed the costumes. Filming took place in southern Bohemia, with the Sudoměř battle filmed at the real site using local extras and military help. Jan Žižka is praised for its grand scale, sets, and battle scenes, but it is also critiqued for political bias and historical distortion common to its era.