The gold commemorative medal from the Czech Mint is a rare memento of the legendary Czech filmmaker Jiří Menzel.

Nostalgic, poetic, and with a touch of gentle humor – this is how one could briefly characterize the distinctive style developed by Jiří Menzel in his films. The work of this world-famous Czech director was imbued with a kindly view of people and the world, often focusing on rural settings with a dreamlike atmosphere. Menzel was able to capture the details of everyday life with sensitivity and precision, and it was precisely these situations familiar to ordinary people that gave his stories their authenticity. He then skillfully evoked the audience's empathy through deeply human and believable characters. He often turned to the past—a time he perceived as a lost paradise—and the authenticity of his films was greatly enhanced by ordinary yet magical Czech locations. A typical feature of Jiří Menzel's directorial work was his inspiration from the works of the writer Bohumil Hrabal, whose literary world, which extolled the beauty of everyday life, he managed to transfer to the silver screen with extraordinary conviction. Other kindred spirits became writer Vladislav Vančura and screenwriter Zdeněk Svěrák. Closely Watched Trains, which won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, Capricious Summer, Larks on a String, Alone in the Woods, Cutting It Short, Snowdrop Festival, My Sweet Little Village, The End of Old Times, I Served the King of England – these and other timeless works continue to inspire generations of filmmakers to this day...

The medallist MgA.Martin Dašek dedicated the obverse side of the commemorative medal to a faithful portrait of Jiří Menzel. On the reverse side, you will find the director's signature, his anniversary of birth and death, and the number 88, which commemorates how many years have passed since his birth. All this is framed by a film strip.

The mintage is limited to just 88 numbered medals, referring to the director's undelivered 88th birthday in 2026.