Thisapocalypticparablecarrieswithinitaclearechoofthe1968invasionofCzechoslovakia.ThisunforgivingexplorationoftheCzechmentalitytellsthetaleofatroupeofwanderingactorswhoperformapassionplayinsomeunnamedvillage.Fearofsomeunknowndangerbreaksoutinthevillage,whichiscutofffromthesurroundingworld.Stupidity,selfishnessandaggressivenessthencometothesurfaceinthissocietyunderthreat.Inthefilm'skeyscene,awomanisrapedbytheself-styledleader.ZdenukMahler,whowouldlaterworkonForman'sexaminationMozartAmadeus,workedonthescript. ThedirectorEvaldSchorm(1929-1988)wasoneofthemostoriginalmembersoftheCzechNewWave.Duringthenormalizationera,Schormspentmanyyearsunabletodirect.Hislastfilm,KillingwithKindness(1988)wasonlymadeinthetwilightyearsofCommunism.Duringthatperiodwhenhewasunabletodirectfilms,hebecameanoutstandingstagedirector.HedirectedgroundbreakingproductionsattheNazábradlíTheaterandLaternaMagika.
