12.  Otakar Vávra: Witches' Hammer (Kladivo na čarodějnice, 1969)


30 April


Screenplay: Otakar Vávra, Ester Krumbachová, based on the novel by Václav Kaplický. Director of
photography: Josef Illík. Editor: Antonín Zelenka. Music: Jiří Srnka. Set designer: Ester
Krumbachová, Karel Škvor. Cast: Vladimír Šmeral (Boblig), Elo Romančík (Lautner), Soňa Valentová
(Zuzana), Martin Růžek (bishop), Josef Kemr (Ignác), Eduard Cupák (Schmidt), Václav Lohniský and
others. 103 min.



A riveting and often disturbing dramatization of the deadly witch hunts that plagued Czech lands in
the late 17th century. A ruthless inquisitor is called out of retirement by the church to
investigate allegations of heresy. Driven by greed and bloodlust, he finds cause to accuse anyone
he wishes of witchcraft, leading to the brutal torture and deaths of hundreds of people. The film
was cerated and taken by the audiences as a parable about show trials and tortures commited by
communist regime in the early 50ties.