Didactica Magna: Against the Grain(2012)

Didactica Magna: Against the Grain is a documentary portrait of Martin Čihák, an experimental filmmaker and unconventional teacher whose methods challenge traditional pedagogy. The film follows Čihák through his daily life at FAMU film school, in parks, and within his studio, capturing intimate moments with his students as he guides them through hands-on filmmaking practice. Rather than presenting a conventional biography, the work functions as a meditation on teaching itself—exploring how Čihák's philosophy shapes his students' creative development and what it means to dedicate oneself to education in the arts. Through observational cinema, the film reveals the soul of a mentor grappling with his vocation and the profound responsibility of nurturing the next generation of filmmakers.