Summary
This 1985 psychological drama from screenwriter-director Jiří Svoboda explores the notion of the doctor as a moral authority, who within the framework of their everyday work must face questions of life and death. The film is adapted from a novel by Valja Stýblová, in which the author draws upon her personal experiences as a former neurosurgeon. But the professional dilemmas of Svoboda’s lead character transcend ethics and touch upon wider questions of morality. The protagonist of this drama is an ageing professor, based at a Prague neurological clinic, who is haunted by issues concerning his own principles and values, and also by the case of a young patient, Víťa, afflicted with an inoperable tumour. The professor’s colleagues are also faced with a number of serious issues: Doctor Volejníková caused the death of a patient; and associate professor Krtek’s only daughter is dying of leukaemia. When Krtek decides to operate on little Víťa despite the prognosis, the old professor adopts his colleague’s optimism that the boy’s life might be saved after all. And so the ultimate lesson is that despite the obstacles, a life of devoted service to others is enough to produce a sense of hope … Svoboda’s professionally crafted classic drama adds flesh to the lead character through personal recollections and scenes from the experienced physician’s private life involving wife Jitka and son Ondřej. The director provides considerable space to the performers, especially to experienced leading actor Miroslav Macháček as the professor. Macháček also appeared in director Jiří Svoboda’s Jen o rodinných záležitostech (Family Matters, 1990). Jana Brejchová (Jitka) previously starred in the director’s Schůzka se stíny (An Encounter of Shadows, 1982) and Zánik samoty Berhof (The Downfall of the Secluded Berhof, 1983). The collaboration between Radoslav Brzobohatý (Krtek) and Radovan Lukavský (patient Mašek), who acted alongside Brejchová in An Encounter of Shadows, illustrates Svoboda’s ability to utilise proven performers. Young actor Zdeněk Jakub also appears in Svoboda’s Prokletí domu Hajnů (The Curse of the Hajns’ House, 1988).
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