During World War II, Kachlík joined an underground resistance movement where he printed and distributed leftist leaflets, and after graduating from school in 1942, he was forced into working for Germany as a member of the fire brigades in the Ruhr area.
[3] After World War II, he attended the College of Political and Social Sciences, before applying for an education at the Film Academy (FAMU) in 1946.
[4] After graduating, Kachlík went to Zlín to work as a dramaturge in the Workers’ Theatre, before joining the military in 1952, and serving until 1954.
[4] Kachlík began his directing career by working as second director, with Josef Mach and Bořivoj Zeman.
Kachlík received criticism for directing a biographical film about communist leader Klement Gottwald, called the Dvacátý devátý.