L'OREILLE

By : Karel Kachyna

With : Jirina Bohdalova, Radoslav Brzobohaty, Jiri Cisler, Miroslav Holub, Milica Kolofikova, Galina Kopaneva, Ladislav Krecmer
Rep. tchèque, 1969, 74 min
zone 2, Noir & Blanc,
13.00 €


English title: THE EAR
Original title: UCHO

Directed by : Karel Kachyna

With : Jirina Bohdalova, Radoslav Brzobohaty, Jiri Cisler, Miroslav Holub, Milica Kolofikova, Galina Kopaneva, Ladislav Krecmer
Czechoslovakia, 1969, 74 min
DVD 9, zone 2, Black and White

Original Czech version, with French subtitles

Ludvik, a Communist official, comes home with his wife after having spend the evening at a government meeting where he have found out some colleagues have been "relieved" of their responsibilities. At home, he discovers that his house is bugged and that "The Ear" of the government has been listening to him. When he opens the light, he sees a group of shady men waiting outside his house, and fears to be the next one on the black list...

Karel Kachyna directed in 1970 this unique film dealing with fear among communist officials in the 50's. The story is very impressive - and due to the situation in early 70's (the country was occupied by Soviets in 1968) it haven't been screened until the end of the communist regime . The people involved in the production of this film het big troubles later and had to "prove" their loyalty towards the regime. This is a film that is definitely worth seeing, probably the best psychological thriller of the Czech production and a "must" for the ones who are interested in the inner functions of every totalitarian society.
This highly-charged political satire from Czechoslovakia has been banned for 20 years.

Cannes Film Festival, 1990 : Nominated for the Golden Palm

Bonus : chapitering · restored master · new subtitles - Booklet 12 pages : "La chute, la montée et l'incertitude (le film tchèque de 1970 · 1996)" by Jan Luke (extracts) / Filmography