directed by David Ondříček, drama, 106 min, eng subtitles
written by Marek Epstein, David Ondříček, Misha Votruba
with Ivan Trojan, Sebastian Koch, Soňa Norisová, David vehlík
Set in Prague amid the dramatic events of the 1950s, the film follows Hakl, a member of the Communist police force, and his investigation of a seemingly run-of-the-mill robbery at a goldsmith's shop. His desire for the truth, though, leads him to new evidence indicating that the case is far more complicated than it seems. State Security takes over the investigation, replacing him with a German specialist in Zionist crime, Zenke, whose ominous arrival feels like more than a mere coincidence. Hakl defiantly continues his investigation on his own, sending both men on a collision course with government powers beyond anything they could have imagined. Can one just man emerge victorious from a struggle with the well-connected network of the Communist police? The adversary is powerful, and Hakl soon finds out he can believe nothing and trust no one. Hanging over everyone is a shadow of their past, of their weaknesses, which can make a culprit of a victim and a hero of a culprit.
Awards:
Czech Lions 2012 (Best Film, Director, Screenplay, Actor, Cinematographer, Music, Editing, Visual Arrangements)
Official Oscar Submission 2012 (Foreign Language Film)
With the support of the Czech Embassy in Brussels