The Arrival from the Darkness

Bohdan discovers a dead man in a mysterious tower: an ancestor who lived in the 16th century; he also finds instructions for resurrecting him. The Arrival from the Darkness (1921) was a remarkable Czech film in its day thanks to the visuals, the cast, the splendid Bohemian castle locations, and top-notch editing. During the film’s restoration, historians of the National Film Archive (NFA) discovered that all existing prints were made after 1950 from a negative that had two of the reels switched. Apparently, audiences hadn´t noticed. Film historians described the film as obscure and mysterious. Art theater Ponrepo’s 1973 program mentions a “very complicated story” with “a lot of flashbacks.” The newly reconstructed version will surprise viewers who saw the film with its shuffled storyline. The festival screening will be accompanied with live music by Andrea Rottin. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)