Catalogue of Czech Television Programmes
An adaptation of Franz Werfels novel about a man haunted by memories of an unadmitted guilt from youth.Young and ambitious Sebastian comes to study in Prague. In the effort to establish his status among his fellow-students he comes into conflict with Adler, a brilliant kid at the top of the class and a favorite of students and teachers alike. The battle for prestige between the two boys, of whom Adler is the more trusting and vulnerable, becomes more and more intense. But Adler begins to succumb and loses ground until, inspired by Sebastian, he even begins cheating. The end result is his attempt to escape to the United States with Sebastians "friendly" help. The guilt which Sebastian feels returns in full force thirty years later when, as an esteemed judge, he listens to a man suspected of murder. Much evidence and the same name point to the fact that the suspect might be Sebastians former fellow-student and rival. The torturous reproaches of his conscience, however, quickly melt away when it is shown that the names just happen to be the same. The old guilt can once again be forgotten and Judge Sebastian can continue to be considered a solid and honorable man whom everyone respects.
SD | 106' | © 1999
director(s): Viktor Polesný
producer(s): Czech Television
scriptwriter(s): Eduard Verner
director of photography: Josef Špelda
cast: Jiří Lábus, Jiří Racek, Jiří Schmitzer, Radek Zima, Petr Štěpánek, Michal Jagelka, Petra Lustigová and others
original language: Czech
subtitles available: English