Oil Lamps

From the director of The Cremator and Morgiana, Juraj Herz’s distinctive, ​decadent film is adapted from the renowned novel by Jaroslav Havlicek. Set at the turn of the 19th-century in the final years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this atmospheric period drama is a bitter ​'romance' which centres on the tragic marriage between two cousins. Stepa (the wonderful Iva Janzurova), is a vivacious, modern-minded, wealthy young woman, but who is desperately seeking love and happiness; Pavel (Petr Cepek), is an arrogant, self-serving retired army officer weighed down by debt, cynicism, and syphilis. Herz’s lavish film evokes a pungent atmosphere of decay and features superb performances by its two leads, gorgeous costume and set design, and stunning cinematography by Dodo Simoncic. An iconic classic of Czech cinema, presented from a new 4K restoration. • Oil Lamps (Petrolejove lampy, 1971) presented from a new 4K restoration by the Czech National Film Archive. • Projection Booth commentary with film historians Mike White, Kat Ellinger and Jonathan Owen. • A Conversation on a Train (Rozhovor ve vlaku, 1947): An early short Czech public information film on the perils of alcohol and STDs. • Trailer. • Booklet with new writing on the film by author and Czech cinema expert Peter Hames. • New English subtitle translation. • World premiere on Blu-ray.