Oldřich Lipský's one-of-a-kind Czech black comedy employs an ingenious twist - telling the life story of a condemned murderer entirely in reverse: from his 'birth' at the guillotine, to his departure as an infant. Utilising the techniques of silent cinema, the film plays with the flow of cinematic time to audacious effect.
Starring the great Vladimír Menšík in a rare leading role, this wildly inventive and disarmingly hilarious Czech film predates the use of reverse-chronology narratives in more celebrated fiction, theatre and international cinema. Upending the usual narrative flow, Happy End is a darkly surreal Dadaist delight.
Second Run present the world Blu-ray premiere of the beloved Happy End from a brand new 4K restoration. Our region-free Blu-ray also includes a new video essay by Cerise Howard, a Projection Booth audio commentary, plus a booklet with new writing on the films by author and commentator Jonathan Owen.
