'Fantastic Planet'

Although it was directed by a Frenchman and finished in a Paris studio, this brilliant animated feature is actually quite Czechslovakian and is considered an allegory for the Russian occupation of the country.

Following Nazi occupation through May 1945, Czechslovakia underwent a coup amidst its government when the communist party gained power and effectively took over and thus Russia was brought in as sort of the ruling sovereign state. Basically, it's a a big land grab as everyone took sides in the Cold War.

The country's assets were nationalized: Heavy industrialization took place and farming wasn't forsaken, but it was severely mistreated as it was slowly weeded out as far as the country's vision was and what Russia needed.

This history is a big mess. There is no story here of millions of Czechs dying in the fields or Stalin doing away with its entire population. But, from 1948 to 1989, the Czech people probably felt a lot like the Oms, helpless against the giant Draags. I would gather that this settlement between the countries was a bit troubling because so many Czechs lost their lives in the two world wars and then to have Russia with their greedy paws in their cookie jar had to be a tad demeaning.

Following a reform in the 1960s, censorship was tightened up in Czechslovakia and thus the finishing of Fantastic Planet was moved to Paris to avoid the censors.