Takovej Mančaft (international title: Czech Heritage) is a documentary short of around six minutes, made in the Czech Republic and directed by Denisa Nováková. Shot by Daniel Novák, it was developed as a student project at FAMU in collaboration with the youth-development initiative “Come Play Hockey” promoted by Czech Hockey.
The documentary focuses on ice hockey, regarded as the national sport of the Czech Republic, through the eyes of a new generation of players. The narrative moves through locker rooms, training sessions and first competition experiences, seeking to understand what still leads children to choose the discipline today.
Alongside the young athletes, the film gives voice to figures who influence their sporting and personal growth: coaches, parents, project managers and, naturally, teammates, who in the locker room represent the beating heart of sporting practice.
The principal subjects are young hockey players such as Tomas Kress, Filip Hula, Radim Marhoul, Adam Maly, Michal Mares, Filip Turek, Filip Kratochvil, Daniel Hula, Chris Krueger, Matej Houska and Vladislav Houska. Their authentic participation as real athletes helps provide a genuine portrait of everyday sporting life.
The film's central message concerns sport's formative value: effort, consistency, team spirit and personal growth. Its aim, also stated in the director's notes, is to answer a simple but fundamental question: what can hockey give that no other experience can offer?
The project, completed on 2 March 2025, was made as student work but with a structured production involving a technical team specialised in cinematography, editing and sound.
Film Information
Title: Czech Heritage
Original title: Takovej Mančaft
Direction: Denisa Nováková
Production: Daniela Nováková, Samuel Zacek
Country: Czech Republic
Language: Czech, English
Running time: 5 minutes and 53 seconds
Genre: Documentary, short film
Sport featured: Ice hockey
Main subject(s): Tomas Kress, Filip Hula, Radim Marhoul, Adam Maly, Michal Mares, Filip Turek, Filip Kratochvil, Daniel Hula, Chris Krueger, Matej Houska, Vladislav Houska
Completion date: 2 March 2025
Premiere: [Not specified]
Distributor: [Not stated]
Shooting format: Digital, 2.39:1, colour
Director's first film: No
Student project: Yes – FAMU