In early 20th century Czechoslovakia, a gravely ill chemist recalls his discovery of a powerful explosive and how it landed in the hands of anarchists.
Cinematography
Shadow-drenched Prague streets that breathe unease.
Acting
Karel Höger's unraveling sanity in every sweaty close-up.
Direction
Vávra's dream-logic pacing before Lynch made it cool.

Director
Otakar Vávra
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on Karel Čapek's 1924 novel, written between world wars—its atomic-adjacent explosive eerily predicted nuclear anxiety.
Released months before Communist takeover; Vávra's Expressionist style was later denounced as 'bourgeois decadence.'