Available from 26 March – 23 April
Directed by Štefan Uher • 1965 • Czechoslovakia

Štefan Uher’s claustrophobic tale of faith and fascism is an uncut gem of the Czechoslovak New Wave. Set in the era of Nazi occupation and collaboration, the film follows a Polish deserter (Alexandr Březina) who finds refuge in a small-town Slovak monastery. His virtuosic talents as an organist provoke a crisis of conscience in the local choirmaster (František Bubík), laying bare the web of resentments and twisted loyalties that hold sway over this corner of wartime Europe. Shot through with the music of Bach, artfully adapted by composer Ján Zimmer, and filmed with a suitably Gothic sense of religious fervour, The Organ demonstrates the often forgotten contribution of Slovak directors like Uher to the New Wave.

THE ORGAN
Directed by Štefan Uher
Written by Alfonz Bednár
Cinematography by Stanislav Szomolány
Music by Ján Zimmer
Starring: František Bubík, Alexandr Březina, Kamil Marek

Winner of a Special Prize at the Locarno Film Festival 1965