Summary
Director Jaroslav Soukup established himself early on as a fine story teller who could successfully capture the atmosphere of a period and delineate its pertinent themes. This much was evident in the historical drama Záchvěv strachu (Quiver of Fear, 1983) which followed the director’s own screenplay. The main protagonist of the story is writer František Vinický who after returning from prison tries to live an ordinary life. As one of the former leaders of the 1948 revolution, all doors are closed to him. Friends avoid František but the secret police stay close and try to force him to betray his nationalistic ideals. Despite the fact that Soukup’s story is set in the second half of the 19th century, its sombre atmosphere and themes more than fleetingly refer to the time of its creation. The film’s appeal is enhanced by the performance of Radoslav Brzobohatý in the lead role.
Read more
