Ballad for a Bandit

Love, betrayal, an untamed hunger for freedom, corruption, revenge, murder – these and many other themes are woven into this ballad.

Nikola Šuhaj was a real historical figure who died on August 16, 1921. Writer Ivan Olbracht spent several years in Subcarpathian Ruthenia, collecting stories from local people, and in 1933 created this literary character – for which he received the State Prize for Literature.

In the mid-1970s, Milan Uhde and Miloš Štědroň adapted the story into a theatrical work, and director Zdeněk Pospíšil staged it at the Husa na Provázku theatre. Pospíšil himself signed the text, because Milan Uhde was a banned author at the time and could not even attend the premiere.

Based on the theatrical production, a film was made by director V. Sísa, starring M. Donutila and I. Bittová; the songs from the play became genuinely popular.