Fear

The first part of the loose detective trilogy with Major Kalaš was based on the spy novel by Eduard Fiker Kilometer Nineteen. Although there could be seen some tendentiousness in the end – given the original novel and the year of release (relaxed political times have just begun) – it still ranks in the domestic genre production among works above average. Forensic science that is used by the criminal police to capture the perpetrator of a mysterious murder on the Czech-German border gets an unexpectedly considerable room in the film. In the roles of the chief investigators excel Rudolf Hrušínský as major Kalaš and Radoslav Brzobohatý as lieutenant Varga. Both are characterized by the minimalist approach that corresponds perfectly with the high-skilled professionals with no personal life. The third “star” of the film is cameraman Bedřich Baťka, who, with the help of expressive lighting – and with absence of a number of establishing shots – has helped to build a disturbing atmosphere of the film. (Noir Film Festival)