Ester Krumbachová—scenographer, costume designer, and artist of the Czechoslovak New Wave —condenses her distinctive vision in this sharp and visually rich feminist satire, in which a woman prepares a meal for the insatiable Mr. Čert (the Czech word for “devil”). The elaborate sets and costumes enhance the shaping of the two archetypal characters, while, by weaving together motifs from fairy tales, legends, and other folk narratives and employing alienation techniques from avant-garde theatre as well as magic-lantern projections, Krumbachová plays with audience expectations and gender stereotypes. Despite its provocative nature, the film was made possible thanks to its popular lead actors. It stands as a culmination of both the Czechoslovak New Wave and the creator’s brief directorial career.
Murdering the Devil (1970) is being screened as a collaboration between the Greek Film Archive and the 9th Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art, everything must change. RIS9 (October 2025 – July 2026), organized by MOMus, where Ester Krumbachová’s broader body of work will be further presented.
The screenings and introductory lectures are organized as part of the 14th Athens Avant-Garde Film Festival, in collaboration with the Ester Krumbachová Archive and the National Film Archive, Prague.
Funding for the events is provided by the European Union – Next Generation EU, the Czech Recovery Plan, and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, as part of the support for the Ester Krumbachová Archive in 2025.
