Adapted from his own novel by Czech author Vladimír Körner, Vláčil’s provocative first colour film focuses on the frictions between Czechs and Germans in post-war Czechoslovakia. Set during the mass expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia after World War II, it focuses on a returning Czech soldier who falls in love with his German housemaid, who turns out to be the daughter of a notorious Nazi war criminal. Regarded as controversial by the Czech authorities, the film originally received a minimal release but has since gone on to be regarded as one of the director’s greatest works.

4K DCP courtesy of the National Film Archive in Prague.