work act as exposition. A small pile of books and an empty jar of milk hint at poverty and intellect. His neglected violin suggests passion and creativity that has been suppressed; and his small bedroom window, which shows a solitary smoking chimney, subtly alludes to the horrors of the Holocaust. Towards the end of the film, a voice from the radio, declares in a monotone voice, "The longer the war lasts the greater is our faith in the final victory." Not a voice of hope, Brynych's film sends out a message of despair. Cast Miroslav Macháček as Dr. Armin Braun Olga Scheinpflugová as Music teacher Jiří Adamíra as Lawyer Karel Veselý, owner of the building Zdenka Procházková as Marta Veselá Josef Vinklář as Vlastimil Fanta Ilja Prachař as Butcher Šidlák Jana Prachařová as Věra Šidláková Jiří Vršťala as Inspector Tomáš Hádl as Honzík Veselý Eva Svobodová as Landlady Kratochvílová Karel Nováček as Resistance member Pánek Čestmír Řanda as Dr. Emil Wiener Slávka Budínová as Helena Wienerová Iva Janžurová as Maid Anička Reception When the film was released in the United States in 1968, it was praised by the critics. Time magazine said it was a "superlatively photographed film," and Roger Ebert wrote, "It comes as a shock, in the last ten minutes, to discover how deeply involved you have become. [It is] unmistakably the work of a master, and I can only wonder whether Brynych has made other films or if his ability is natural, as Fellini seems to be. I mention Fellini because this film seems to have what Fellini and very few other directors are able to achieve: A sense of rhythm." and "A nearly perfect film...beautiful, distinguished work. I imagine it will win the Academy Award for the best foreign film." References External links DVD review at MovieHabit 1965 drama films 1965 films 1960s avant-garde and experimental films Czechoslovak black-and-white films 1960s Czech-language films Czechoslovak avant-garde and experimental films Films about Jews and Judaism Films directed by Zbyněk Brynych Films set in Prague Holocaust films Czech war films Czech resistance to Nazi occupation in film Czech avant-garde and experimental films Czech World War II films Czechoslovak World War II films Medical-themed films