Pass

Acclaimed Polish director Janusz Majewski was also involved in a number of Czech and Polish co-productions. In addition to Dvojí svět hotelu Pacifik (Behind the Scenes at the Pacific Hotel, 1975) and Slaná růže (Salty Rose, 1982), he also directed Kainovo znamení (The Pass, 1989), a historical drama that takes place during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. The protagonist of the story is student Ludvík Machl (Polish actor Olaf Lubaszenko dubbed in Czech by Antonín Navrátil) who is paying the price for agreeing under pressure to collaborate with the secret police. Initially a proponent of revolutionary ideals, the youth is forced to snoop on behalf of the Austrian intelligence service, something which gradually costs him his family, friends, love and dignity. The narrative resonates with the contemporary political situation: screenwriter Vladimír Körner originally penned his short novel Život za podpis (Life Against Signature) as a reminder of the fates of all those who had been forced to collaborate with the secret police.