Witchhammer

Witchhammer (Kladivo Na Carodejnice) (1970)

Runtime: 107 minutes

Directed by: Otakar Vavra

Starring: Elo Romancik, Vladimir Smeral, Sona Valentova, Josef Kemr, Lola Skrbkova

From: Filmove Studio Barrandov

Well, that was grim.

As the film’s available on the Criterion Channel, Czech cinema has barely been explored by me (or cinema behind the Iron Curtain aside from the Soviet Union) and something different was desired, I selected Witchhammer.

In the latter half of the 17th century, the Northern Moravia Witch Trials occur; sadly, this was based on real-life events. The proceedings were as expected for an inquisition. Women were accused of engaging in witchcraft, they were tortured until falsely confessing that others were witches, and it spread like a virus.

This was exactly as grim as you’d expect a 1970 movie behind the Iron Curtain to be, especially when it’s a thinly-veiled attack on Communism and phony trials where the guilt of the accused was predetermined before the trial. In fact, the movie was banned over there for almost two decades. Miserable moments happening to the fairer sex, the fate of those who dare start questioning this witch hunt and oppressive atmosphere aside, it was still a compelling journey due to the direction, the script, the performances and the score.

It's not the easiest journey to take; women are tortured, after all, and several characters are rather loathsome, looking to acquire power & that supersedes all other concerns. However, at least once in awhile I should view serious, sobering cinema such as Witchhammer. It’s far more staid & sobering than Vincent Price’s Witchfinder General, to make the obvious comparison.