Summary
Cameraman František Uldrich put across his refined visual sense for atmosphere during his collaboration with František Vláčil. However, he also influenced the form of a series of genre films. Among them is this 1978 crime drama directed by Karel Kovář. Uldrich also worked with this director, who made only two feature films, on the comedy Tím pádem (That’s Why, 1979). In Past na kachnu (The Duck Trap), a police investigation following the murder of an Austrian tourist takes place in the dreary, cheerless time of “normalisation” in Prague. Milan Sandhaus performs the role of Major Mlynář, who is investigating the case, a nasty affair revolving around gambling clubs and heroin smuggling. The actor playing the part of the shuffling taxi driver Koukal, who ceases to be of use to his accomplice, is Miroslav Macháček (who excels). The solid cast is further strengthened by Petr Čepek in the role of the pump man Richter.
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