Directed by:
Jan S. KolárCast:
Theodor Pištěk, Anny Ondráková, Josef Šváb-Malostranský, Karel Lamač, Luigi Hofman, Vladimír Majer, Alfred Baštýř, Rudolf Myzet, Jan W. SpeergerPlots(1)
Bohdan discovers a dead man in a mysterious tower: an ancestor who lived in the 16th century; he also finds instructions for resurrecting him. The Arrival from the Darkness (1921) was a remarkable Czech film in its day thanks to the visuals, the cast, the splendid Bohemian castle locations, and top-notch editing. During the film’s restoration, historians of the National Film Archive (NFA) discovered that all existing prints were made after 1950 from a negative that had two of the reels switched. Apparently, audiences hadn´t noticed. Film historians described the film as obscure and mysterious. Art theater Ponrepo’s 1973 program mentions a “very complicated story” with “a lot of flashbacks.” The newly reconstructed version will surprise viewers who saw the film with its shuffled storyline. The festival screening will be accompanied with live music by Andrea Rottin. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)
(more)Reviews (3)
This is very good. This is what it looked like when the Czechs went to shoot in Germany and brought it home. :) To this day, one of my strongest experiences from the Czech 1920s, rivaled only by The Flames of Life. The fact is that both films are well-informed by the work of the Germans. Vladimir Majer is a very good villain and the Ondra-Lamač duo cannot disappoint. The awakened Rudolfinum Charles and his encounter with modern achievements are impressive, as is the then still very distinguished Anny in so many excellent costumes. This is an ideal film to recommend to those just learning about this film industry.
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The very ending didn't particularly impress me, but what preceded it was great. The mysterious story, the gradual unraveling of the mystery and who actually plays what role in it, the jumps from the present to the past... all very nicely thought out and clearly presented._____ P.S. The National Film Archive should be ashamed of the DVD release, though, because the film had quite a lot of publicity, it wasn't cheap, a new soundtrack was created for it (my favorite, Infinity)... and the DVD is ultimately fudged, as the sound lags a few seconds behind the picture and you can tell. Amateurish.
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The Arrival from the Darkness is a beautiful example of how horror has a much longer history in Czechoslovak and Czech cinema than we actually realize, yet we Czechs are unable to continue this tradition. This is despite the fact that The Arrival from the Darkness is, in places, essentially a gothic horror and has the potential to evoke fear through imagery and how a scene is presented. This potential isn't fully utilized, rather less than more, but that doesn't change the fact that it's an interesting film, and it would be a shame if it were forgotten.
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