22.09.2025

On October 1, there will be another Czech Film Wednesday at Zentralkino Dresden, this time with the impressive drama "Vyšší princip" (The Higher Principle) from 1960, which is the second most popular Czech film of all time (behind Pelišky).

The film is about the pupils of a small-town grammar school in 1942, shortly before their final exams. After the successful assassination attempt on Reich Protector Heydrich, Nazi terror breaks out and people are executed by the dozen. Three of his classmates are arrested following the denunciation of the son of a well-known collaborator. One of their teachers, who actually prefers to live in the world of the classics and quote Seneca rather than deal with the here and now, is shocked by this and bravely tries to save the three of them.

In a way, the 1960 film is an example of the transition from the largely propagandistic filmmaking of the 1950s to the greater freedom of the 1960s, which led to the Czechoslovak New Wave, among other things. More differentiated characters instead of woodcut-like characters and the depiction of the German occupation in more facets are evidence of this. Nevertheless, the depressed atmosphere of the time can be felt very well.

We have only scheduled one performance at 8 pm this time. So you may have to hurry to get tickets.

More about the movie and tickets

(This is an automatic translation by DeepL Translator.)