Summary
Director Otakar Vávra spent from 1954 to 1956 creating a cycle of three historical costume features (Jan Hus, Jan Žižka, Proti všem [Against Everybody]) based on the literary works of Alois Jirásek. The first title of his “Hussite trilogy” tells the biographical story of the renowned Czech priest burned at the stake as a heretic in Konstanz, Germany, in 1415 after clashing with the Church establishment over his beliefs. The nationalistic narration, conforming to the ideology of its time, depicts Jan Hus as a rioter and revolutionary who ignites the spark of social rebellion among Czech people. The director sets the evil, disdainful King Zikmund (Jan Pivec) against the honest, patriotic-minded Hus and his friends and comrades. Zdeněk Štěpánek takes the leading role in this spectacularly delivered tale; he also portrays Jan Žižka in the final instalment of the trilogy.
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