Despite being a major production , the finished film was met by reluctance from the Polish authorities . Not only was the crumbled sanatorium interpreted as a parallel to the poor condition of many institutions and manor houses in contemporary Poland ; Has had also chosen to emphasize the Jewish aspects of the source material , and this soon after an antisemitic campaign the government had launched in 1968 , which had prompted around 30,000 Polish Jews to leave the country . The authorities forbid Has to submit '' The Hourglass Sanatorium '' for the 1973 Cannes Film Festival , but the director managed to smuggle a print abroad so the film could be screened at the festival . The Cannes jury , led by actress Ingrid Bergman , honoured the film with the Jury Prize . The Polish premiere took place on 11 December 1973 . The film is among 21 digitally restored classic Polish films chosen for '' Martin Scorsese Presents : Masterpieces of Polish Cinema . '' and has been released on blu-ray in a related box set by Milestone Cinema
1973 Cannes Film Festival
1973 Cannes Film Festival
The Hourglass Sanatorium