Summary
During the 1980s and 90s, director Vladimír Drha added to the treasure trove of Czech film fairytales with Jestřábí moudrost (Hawk’s Wisdom, 1989), O třech rytířích, krásné paní a lněné kytli (Three Knights, the Lovely Maiden and Flaxen Smock, 1996) and O perlové panně (The Pearl Maiden, 1997). This Polish-Czech co-production is loosely inspired by an Irish folktale. The sombre ballad relates a cruel curse hanging over the son of the king who is supposed to kill his father, according to the wise lore imparted by a hawk. So long as he fails to carry out this deed, the kingdom will be plagued by eternal winter. The king fails to have the dangerous child killed: baby Kryštof is saved by a bird catcher who raises him along with real son Jan. But when the prince reaches adulthood, he discovers that the trap of fate cannot be escaped easily. Polish actors Gregorz Emanuel and Piotr Rzymyskiewicz take the lead roles. Initially, Jaromil Jireš was set to direct, but production was delayed for two years by snowless winters.
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