Some films are not made for comfort. They are made to stay with you. The Ear / Ucho is one of those rare Czech classics – a tense, intimate drama where fear slowly turns a home into a trap and love into suspicion.
Now available in a digitally restored Blu-ray edition in HD, with English subtitles, this landmark film can finally reach international viewers in the quality it deserves.
The Film They Tried to Bury
The Ear was made in 1970 by writer Jan Procházka and director Karel Kachyňa – and it became one of the most strictly banned Czech titles, locked away “in the vault.”
It was released only after 1989, with its cinema premiere in June 1990. And the chilling part? The more time passed, the more the film seemed to grow in relevance.
“Trust, but Verify” – and There’s an Ear in the Wall
The story begins quietly: Ludvík, a high-ranking official, returns home with his wife Anna. But the night quickly shifts. Something feels wrong. The house is too silent. Too aware. And then the thought appears – what if they are being listened to?
From that moment, the tension tightens scene by scene. Doubt becomes paranoia. Intimacy becomes danger. Every sentence can be a mistake.
What makes the film extraordinary is its tone: psychological drama mixed with sharp satire, hints of grotesque humor, flashes of crime-like suspense, and even moments with a Hitchcock-like atmosphere.
A Performance That Feels Uncomfortably Real
The film is carried by two unforgettable performances: Radoslav Brzobohatý and Jiřina Bohdalová. Their acting is raw, controlled, and painfully believable.
And there is an extra layer: during filming, Bohdalová and Brzobohatý were married in real life, which makes the emotional tension between them feel even more authentic.
Behind-the-scenes facts fans love
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At the same time, Brzobohatý and Bohdalová were also working on Burglar and Umbrella / Penicka a Paraplicko and the TV series F. L. Věk.
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Actress Jiřina Jirásková reportedly met Bohdalová by chance in a dressing room - both holding the script. After a short conversation, Jirásková gave up the camera tests for Anna, convinced that no one could capture the character better than Bohdalová.
Why the Restored Blu-ray matters
This is a film built on mood and detail – and restoration makes a real difference. In HD, the shadows, silence, and close-ups become even more powerful.
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digitally restored HD picture
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Czech audio (Dolby Digital)
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English subtitles for international viewers
The Ear / Ucho is not an easy watch. But it is an essential one.
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