Sekal Has to Die

This terrific Czech movie was a wonderful surprise. Set in a small, isolated Czech village during World War II, it does not focus on the war but instead on how the distant war could deeply impact such a remote place and its reclusive inhabitants. Within that background, the story is a powerful one, straightforward but not simple. The characters lead simple lives but are complex individuals, and the tensions between them are palpable.

The acting is superb (the two male leads and female lead are all Polish actors). And cinematically, the movie is very well made.

Some viewers, particularly Americans accustomed to action- oriented dramas, might say the film moves too slowly. Not so. It moves perfectly, inextricably towards its surprising end. This is altogether first-class work.