And Give My Love to the Swallows, Jaromil Jires (Czechoslovakia, 1971)

(A Pozdravuji Vlastovsky, a.k.a. Give My Love to the Swallows). Jaromil Jires (best known for Valerie and Her Week of Wonders) based the lyrical And Give My Love to the Swallows on the experiences of young Czech resistance fighter Maruska (Marie) Kuderíková, who was imprisoned by the Nazis and sentenced to death. Jires has written: “When I read Marie Kuderíková’s notes written in prison they attracted me for many reasons. For example, because (they are) remarkable literature, which with an imminent presence expresses the feelings, ideas, the internal life of a person in an exceptional situation. It is almost unbelievable that these are the thoughts of a young woman condemned to death. Her farewell letter is full of humility, love, internal strength.”

• Written by Jires. Photographed by Jan Curík. With Magda Vásáryová, Viera Strnisková, Július Vasek, Hana Pastejríková. (86 mins, In Czech with English subtitles, Color, 35mm, PFA Collection)