Murdering the Devil
1970 / dir. Ester Krumbachová / 85 min / New 4K restoration
Dissatisfied with single life and eyeing marriage, an unnamed fortysomething bachelorette (Jirina Bohdalová) decides to rekindle a relationship with her old childhood friend (Vladimír Mensík). But when he arrives for an elaborately prepared dinner rendezvous, her suitor reveals himself to be a boorish, arrogant glutton. Undeterred, she pushes herself to increasingly absurd and surreal ends in romancing this nightmare date… who may just be the devil himself.
The sole directorial outing from legendary Czechoslovak New Wave costume designer and writer Ester Krumbachová (Daisies, Witchhammer, Valerie and Her Week of Wonders), Murdering the Devil is feast for the senses, pushing Krumbachová’s signature production style to dizzying and sumptuous heights. Boasting all the makings of an uproariously funny New Wave classic in 1969, the film’s potential was quickly hamstrung by Eastern Bloc censorship. Half a century later, this prescient skewering of rom-com conventions has been beautifully restored in 4K by the Czech Film Archive and is finally ready to meet the audience it’s always deserved.
Restored in 4K in 2023 by Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in collaboration with Národní filmový archiv and Státní Fond Kinematografie at UPP and Soundsquare Studios laboratories, from the original image and sound negatives. Funding provided by Milada Kučerová and Eduard Kučera
Screenings: |
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| Oct 25-31 | Metrograph | New York, NY | tickets |
| Oct 26 | American Cinematheque | Los Angeles, CA | tickets |
| Nov 3-7 | River Oaks Theatre | Houston, TX | tickets |
| Nov 8-14 | The Beacon | Seattle, WA | tickets |
| Nov 8+14 | Cleveland Cinematheque | Cleveland, OH | tickets |
| Nov 15+20 | Suns Cinema | Washington, DC | tickets |
| Nov 22 | Hollywood Theater | Portland, OR | tickets |
| Nov 22-23 | UWM Union Cinema | Milwaukee, WI | tickets |
| Dec 8-11 | Amherst Cinema | Amherst, MA | tickets |
| Dec 18 | Lightbox Film Center | Philadelphia, PA | tickets |
| Feb 1, 2025 | UW Cinematheque | Madison, WI | tickets |
| Feb 13, 2025 | Cicada Cinema | Bloomington, IN | tickets |
| Feb 14, 2025 | Archives on Screen | Minneapolis, MN | tickets |
| Apr 5, 2025 | University of New Hampshire | Durham, NH | tickets |