Romeo, Juliet and Darkness

Jiří Weiss, 1959

Film at Filmový přehled

Summary

Based on a literary work by author Jan Otčenášek, this 1959 love story is set against the backdrop of the oppressive reign of Nazi Protectorate Reich-Protector Reinhard Heydrich. In the spring of 1942, student Pavel Rumler hides in his attic a Jewish girl called Hanka Ledererová, who has managed to escape the forced transports. The young couple fall in love, but Pavel is unable to protect his secret love from the earth-shattering events taking place in the world outside. Made by director Jiří Weiss, Romeo, Julie a tma (Romeo, Juliet and Darkness) skilfully evokes the climate of wartime fear suffocating this star-crossed couple. Slovak actor Ivan Mistrík gained a major break in the role of Pavel. Dana Smutná plays Hanka in her onscreen debut. Additionally, experienced actress Blanka Bohdanová plays Miss Kubiasová, a traitorous betrayer, who easily forgets her patriotic duties while wrapped in the arms of a German Nazi officer.
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Film data

About a film

Production year 1959
Countries Czechoslovakia
Categories film
Genres drama
Form feature
Duration 92 min
Director Jiří Weiss
Cast Ivan Mistrík, Dana Smutná, Jiřina Šejbalová, František Smolík, Blanka Bohdanová, Eva Mrázová
Director of photography Václav Hanuš
Screenplay Jiří Weiss, Jan Otčenášek
Editor Miroslav Hájek
Production designer Karel Škvor
Music Jiří Srnka
Sound designer Emil Poledník