Touha zvana Anada - Czechoslovakia, 1969- released 1971- American title: Adrift. Features Rade Markovic, Milena Dravic & Paula Pritchett. Directed by Jan Kadar & Elmar Klos. Music by Zdenek Liska.
Filmed in Slovakia in 1968-9, the production was interrupted by the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia & the subsequent erection of a temporary military bridge at the shooting location. Production was resumed & completed for release in 1971.
The basis of the film, Hungarian writer Lajos Zilahy's 1928 novel 'Valamit visz a víz' ('Something is Adrift in the Water'), was filmed once before in a 1948 Mexican production entitled 'Algo Flota Sobre el Agua'.
The combination of sensitive performances by the principals, the mythic story line, Paula Pritchett's stunning, Nefertiti-like appearance, Kadar's intricate narrative & Zdenek Liska's unconventional & ingenious music make this mostly forgotten film worth seeing anew.
The only extant print available with English subtitles was in very poor condition with many of the subtitles obscured. These subtitles were created afresh from a variety of sources & combined with a native release VHS rip. Some revisions were made to make the English renderings more idiomatic. (less info)