Svědek umírajícího času

Later life film? or Czech films that have kind of been forgotten II.

Directed by Miloslav Luther, Czechoslovakia 1990, 96 min.

The historical figure of the physician, politician and philosopher Jan Jesenio (1566-1621) became the main character of the five-part Slovak series Lekár umierajúceho czasu / Doctor of Dying Time. It was filmed in 1983, but after seven years the material was adapted into a feature film and provided with Czech dialogue. In Witness to Dying Time, screenwriter Vladimír Körner and director Miloslav Luther tell the story of the fate of a prominent figure linked to Czech history. The story begins in 1596, when we first meet the physician Jesenia in the Hungarian wilderness. He then works in Prague at the court of Emperor Rudolf II, becomes rector of Charles University, significantly advances contemporary medical knowledge with his pupils, becomes involved in the struggle of the Czech Estates, and after the Battle of White Mountain ends up in the hands of the executioner...

Petr Čepek excels in the lead role of this large-scale historical fresco. Rudolf Hrušínský as Emperor Rudolf II also impresses with his quality cast.

Introduction by film historian Jan Lukeš

In original version.