Shown: May 7, 2023 at 6pm
Director : Agnieszka Holland
Country : Czech Republic
Release Date : 2020
Duration : 118 mins
Language : Czech
Subtitles : Yes
Few true stories tread the thin line between good and evil as precariously as that of Jan Mikolášek, a 20th century Czech herbal healer whose great success masked many secrets. Mikolášek won fame and fortune treating celebrities of the interwar, Nazi and Communist eras with his uncanny knack for “urinary diagnosis”. But his passion for healing welled up from the same source as his incapacity for love that only one person could ever quell – his assistant, František. As a show trial threatens to pry open these secrets and undo him, Jan’s dichotomies are put to a final test, with the fate of his life’s only love in the balance. A breathtaking tale as replete with twists as the century itself, and a reflection on the price one pays for single-mindedly following one’s calling.
“Suspenseful and entertaining, while maintaining a distinct air of elegance. Tension and intrigue are amplified by high-contrast cinematography which creates an otherworldly atmosphere.” (Cinema For All)