BORDERLINES FILM FESTIVAL 2025

MURDERING THE DEVIL (Vrazda ing. Certa)
DIRECTOR: Ester Krumbachová
STARRING: Jiřina Bohdalová, Vladimír Menšík
CZECHOSLOVAKIA, 1970, 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES, CZECH + ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Long forgotten, recently restored, Ester Krumbachová’s directorial debut is an exuberant, biting feminist satire.

The Czech production and costume designer, artist and screenwriter offers viewers as delicious a feast for the senses as her protagonist prepares for her insatiable guest, Mr Bohouš Čert (čert is the Czech word for devil).

While Krumbachová collaborated on Czechoslovak New Wave films such as Věra Chytilová’s Daisies, here everything that fascinated her comes together. Elaborate props, costumes and sets help characterise two archetypal characters in a battle of the sexes. Weaving together motifs from fairy tales, legends and other folk narratives, the film plays with audience expectations, as well as gender stereotypes.

It’s a gas.