König des Böhmerwaldes

Smugglers of Death combines the personal story of SNB officer Zeman (Jiří Vala), a rookie among the border guards patrolling the border with the then West Germany, with the search for a vicious smuggler who leads the refugees through a difficult landscape full of swamps and other pitfalls. One of the film’s strengths is its formal aspect, especially the cinematography of Josef Illik, who works with unconventional angles and produces a number of remarkable shots of artistic quality. (Noir Film Festival)