Due to its resemblance to the atmosphere of fear and compulsory confessions that characterized the Stalinist-era Central European Communist countries' methods of the 1950s, the film was removed from release and appeared on television in the former 'Eastern Bloc' only after 1989.
Sona Valentová conditioned her acceptance of the role of Zuzana on her husband Pavol Haspra not having any objections to her nudity. After reading the script, he agreed, because he found it justified.
Sona Valentová revealed that the props used in the inquisition scene, including the instruments of torture, which were from the museum, had to be authentic. "So I had an authentic Spanish boot on my foot and crushers on my toes. These were operated by the executioner, who was portrayed by a non-actor, and at first he used them so enthusiastically that I really screamed in pain. Fortunately, Mr. Vávra stopped the shot. And he complimented me that no actress would play it that way. But it was also thanks to real torture," the Slovak actress recalled with a smile.
The opening credits feature a Czech version of the German folk song "Der Tod in Flandern", also known as "Flandern in Not". The melody comes from the Rhineland in the mid-15th century, the German lyrics ("Der Tod reit't auf einem kohlschwarzen Rappen") were written by Elsa Laura von Wolzogen during the First World War. The Czech lyrics was written by Ester Krumbachová, co-writer and costume designer of the movie.
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