Revenge is a dish best served Czech. In the last days of the World War II, a passionate Czech resistance fighter lies wounded in a hospital bed. Though paralyzed, Pavel (Jan Kacer) is kept alive by his determination to track down the Nazi commander that killed his comrades. In a device far pre-dating The English Patient, a kindly nurse (Blazena Holisova) listens to Pavel's memories, which reveal complex truths about the nature of love and war. This striking tale of justice was the first collaboration of directors Kadar and Klos since their last film was banned by the Czech government in 1958 — and though set during WWII, contains some bold censure of the Communist regime just under the surface.
First Prize at Moscow Film Festival
Concern with serious moral and social problems, the blending of humour and tragedy, the willingness to exploit stylistic techniques that create a certain element of fantasy, these features in the films of Kadar and Klos reflect qualities of the whole New Wave of young Czechoslovak directors of the mid 60s.