🎬 Petrolejové lampy (1971) AKA: Oil Lamps
🧩 Storyline
Set in the late 19th century in a small Bohemian town, Petrolejové lampy follows Štěpa, a lively, outspoken woman whose desire for love and marriage clashes with rigid social norms. She marries Pavel, a withdrawn and troubled man from a declining aristocratic family, hoping for happiness. Instead, the marriage slowly reveals emotional distance, repression, and the quiet cruelty of societal expectations, leading to an inevitable personal tragedy.
🎞️ Movie Details
-
Year: 1971
-
Country: Czechoslovakia
-
Director: Juraj Herz
-
Genre: Drama
-
Runtime: 101 minutes
-
Language: Czech
-
Based on: The novel Petrolejové lampy by Jaroslav Havlíček
🎭 Cast
-
Iva Janžurová as Štěpa Kiliánová
-
Petr Čepek as Pavel Malina
-
Josef Somr
-
Jaroslava Adamová
⭐ Review
A haunting and emotionally restrained drama that exposes the silent violence of tradition, repression, and unfulfilled desire. Juraj Herz delivers a visually elegant yet deeply uncomfortable portrait of a marriage doomed from the start, anchored by an unforgettable performance from Iva Janžurová.
🔍 Why Watch This Movie
Petrolejové lampy is not a loud film—it suffocates quietly.
The power lies in what remains unsaid: gestures, glances, and long silences that reveal emotional decay. The film offers a sharp critique of patriarchal structures and social hypocrisy in pre-modern Central Europe. Its cold visual tone mirrors the inner emptiness of its characters, making it a landmark of Czechoslovak New Wave cinema and a devastating character study of a woman trapped by both love and society.
🎥 Similar Movies
-
The Cremator (1969)
-
Marketa Lazarová (1967)
-
Loves of a Blonde (1965)
-
The Ear (1970)
-
Closely Watched Trains (1966)
❓ FAQ
Is Petrolejové lampy based on a true story?
No, it is adapted from a novel, though it realistically reflects the social conditions of its time.
Is this film part of the Czechoslovak New Wave?
Yes, it is considered one of the darker and more psychologically intense works of the movement.
What makes the film stand out?
Its focus on emotional repression, tragic marriage dynamics, and a powerful female lead performance.
⇓ DOWNLOAD OPTIONS ⇓
Petrolejove lampy (Juraj Herz, 1971).mkv – 1.5 GB
Petrolejove lampy (Juraj Herz, 1971).srt – 56 KB
💥💥💥
📂🎞️ Rare Movies Download Folder
🔥🔥🔥
