The Maple and Juliana, Stefan Uher (Czechoslovakia, 1972)

(Javor a Juliana). After the Soviet invasion of 1968 and subsequent cultural crackdown, many filmmakers turned either to children’s films or to fables for their creative outlet; this 1972 fable by Slovakian director Stefan Uher ranks as one of this phenomenon’s most fascinating examples. Based on medieval Slovakian folk ballads and legends, the film concerns a lovelorn girl turned into a maple tree. Three wandering musicians foolishly cut the spirit-tree down and fashion instruments out of its haunted wood, and are cursed as a result. Wherever they travel, death follows, as each song they play leads only to another young bride’s demise. Soon every village dreads their arrival, though Uher makes sure to underline how the deaths have little to do with the musicians, and more with the schemes of bitter mothers and jealous lovers. Bleakly tracing the musicians’ path through a fearful, spiteful, and finger-pointing society, The Maple and Juliana is both a fable blacker than the Brothers Grimm, and a telling commentary on its time.

—Jason Sanders

• Written by Uher, Alfonz Bednár, based on Slovakian ballads. Photographed by Stanislav Szomolányi. With Martin Huba, Juraj Kukura, Beata Znaková, Gustáv Valach. (92 mins, In Czech with English subtitles, Color, 35mm, PFA Collection)