Oil Lamps - Blu-ray

Oil Lamps (1971) directed by Juraj Herz is a suggestive drama that tells the tragic story of Štěpa, an aging young woman living on the cusp of the 20th century in the suffocating atmosphere of a small Czech town. In this closed society, where pretense, misunderstanding, and false emotions rule, Štěpa is constantly pressured by her mother to marry a suitable suitor from the same social circle. However, Štěpa is different from the other girls. Her emancipated behavior has earned her the reputation of a girl of loose morals, which discourages the city's elites from courting her. When it seems she will remain an old maid, she marries her cousin, a failed officer. On the day of their wedding, she has no idea of the terrible disease that haunts her fiancé. With selfless devotion, she cares for him, but she is mocked and ridiculed by those around her.

The film carefully reconstructs the secessionist era and reveals fateful human suffering. It is a story of disillusioned hopes, love, and sacrifice. The exceptional, emotionally nuanced performances of Iva Janžurová and Petr Čepek bring depth and strength to the film, leaving a lasting impact on viewers long after the credits roll.