Královský omyl

Braucht das Königreich eine Lüge? Ein sehr gutes historisches Drama. Es hätte aber ruhig länger sein können. Dann hätten die Schauspieler, die nur ganz kurz zu sehen waren (Josef Větrovec, Josef Vinklář, Luděk Kopřiva), mehr Raum bekommen können. Das Trio Macháček, Munzar und (vor allem) Růžek hat eine tolle Arbeit geleistet. Es hat mir auch sehr gefallen, wie die Stimmung in der Burg immer dichter wurde. (08.10.2011)

"As long as I'm here, you won't get out." - "And as long as I'm here, you won't get out either." Daněk arranges his intimate drama as a complicated relationship between a prisoner and a jailer - both are mutually dependent and trapped in their own way. "No one can rely on anyone today. You know it best yourself - after all, you are also in charge," says the sad commander of the castle garrison when he decides between loyalty to the current lord and an offer of betrayal from a noble magnate who is currently out of favor. All of this takes place in a situation where he does not know who among his subordinates stands on this or that side. The film is shot in the austere setting of a decaying medieval castle, which gives the film a stamp of period authenticity, and stands on the excellent performances of the charismatic Macháček, Munzar as the uncertain priest, and above all Martin Růžek as the purgrave torn by doubts and squeezed by conflicting interests and threats. Although historical facts do not speak in favor of the honor of Lord Henry of Lipá, Daňek's sense of dialogue, interesting characters, and moral conflicts make the film not an easily digestible, but for me a valuable and attractive spectacle. Overall impression: 90%. (30.05.2022)