322 (1970)
A landmark of Slovak cinema, 322 is a morally searching drama about illness, guilt, and the search for personal redemption in the shadow of a compromised past.
322 - Movie Information
- Original Title: 322
- Release Year: 1970
- Directed by: Dušan Hanák
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- Original Language: Slovak
- Spoken Languages: Czech, Slovak
- Release Date (Theatrical): November 27, 1970 (XC)
- Production Companies: Štúdio hraných filmov Bratislava
- Production Countries: Czechoslovakia
322 - Plot
A story of a man threatened by a fatal illness evaluating his life (the number 322 in the film title stands for the diagnosis of one kind of cancer). He understands his illness as a form of punishment for his cruel deeds in the 1950s. In the face of reality and his efforts to cleanse himself he hits a barrier of indifference, lack of interest, and individual and collective selfishness. He has to find his own reconciliation with his illness and his past and present life.
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322 - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Dušan Hanák
Main Cast
- Václav Lohniský
- Lucyna Winnicka
- Josef Abrhám
- Miroslav Macháček
- František Zvarík
- Vladimír Weiser
- Emil Horváth st.
- Viktor Blaho
- Jana Švandová
- Božena Šérová
Writers
- Dušan Hanák
- Ján Johanides
322 - FAQs
What does the title 322 mean in the film?
The number 322 refers to a medical diagnosis code for a specific type of cancer. The title immediately frames the film's central conflict: a man learning he has a fatal illness and being forced to confront both his mortality and the moral weight of his past actions.
What is 322 about?
322 follows a man who receives a terminal cancer diagnosis and begins re-examining his life. He views his illness as punishment for morally compromised actions during the 1950s. Seeking redemption, he encounters widespread indifference and selfishness, ultimately forced to find his own inner reconciliation with his past and present.
Who directed the 1970 film 322?
322 was directed by Dušan Hanák, a prominent Slovak filmmaker known for his humanist approach and unflinching social commentary. The film is considered one of his most significant works, exemplifying the morally probing style of Czechoslovak New Wave cinema of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Who are the main actors in 322?
The film stars Václav Lohniský as Jozef Lauko, the man confronting his diagnosis, alongside Lucyna Winnicka as Marta, Josef Abrhám as Peter, and Miroslav Macháček as the Doctor. The ensemble cast also includes František Zvarík, Vladimír Weiser, Jana Švandová, and Božena Šérová.
Is 322 based on a true story or literary source?
322 is based on a short story, adapted for the screen by director Dušan Hanák and writer Ján Johanides. Johanides was a distinguished Slovak prose author, and the collaboration brought a strong literary sensibility to the film's introspective, morally charged narrative about illness, guilt, and self-reckoning.
When was the film 322 released?
322 was released on November 27, 1970, in Czechoslovakia. The film emerged during a politically turbulent period following the 1968 Soviet-led invasion, and its unflinching moral critique of complicity and collective indifference made it a challenging work within the constraints of the era.
What language is the film 322 in?
322 is primarily in Slovak, with Czech also spoken in the film. It was produced in Czechoslovakia by Štúdio hraných filmov Bratislava, the main Slovak feature film studio, and reflects the bilingual cultural landscape of Czechoslovak cinema during that period.
What are films similar to 322?
Viewers who appreciate 322 may also enjoy Rashomon (1950) for its moral complexity, In the Bedroom (2001) for its study of guilt and grief, Two Lovers (2008) for intimate character drama, and The Cat Who Walked by Herself (1988) and Zločin a pokánie (1982) for comparable Central European dramatic sensibilities.
More About 322
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