Blue Shadows

"These hardboiled crooks were essentially spawned by communism" - thus the assertion underlying the new case Major Výrová is investigating with her colleagues from the Olomouc police department. The lead character in one of the most impressive Czech crime miniseries in recent years focuses her crosshairs on post-revolutionary rogues while keeping an eye out for illegal "fraternal" dealings. This bleak case starts with the shooting of an Olomouc college lecturer right on campus. It may be that the academic had become too inconvenient for the school's bursar, frequently drawing attention to the curious way the latter was managing – or perhaps mismanaging – millions of crowns. The case also affects the investigators themselves, who have to redefine their team roles when work seriously begins to disrupt their private lives. Blue Shadows caused quite a stir with the hard-hitting, progressive form adopted by director Viktor Tauš and cameraman Martin Douba. Headed by Major Výrová (the outstanding Klára Melíšková), the detectives will have a rough ride trying to close this case as they come up against ambivalent and elusive enemies. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)