Krakatit

Krakatit

Year: 1948

Runtime: 110 mins

Language: Czech

Director: Otakar Vávra

DramaScience FictionHorror

In early 20th century Czechoslovakia, a gravely ill chemist recalls his discovery of a powerful explosive and how it landed in the hands of anarchists.

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Timeline & Setting – Krakatit (1948)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Krakatit (1948). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 20th century

The film is set in a rapidly modernizing Europe, where scientific breakthroughs coexist with political intrigue. It highlights the emergence of weaponized research and the influence of industrial power on society. The aura of the era foreshadows a shift toward large-scale conflict driven by technological advancement.

Location

Jiří's apartment, Balttin Palace, Balttin laboratory, countryside doctor's village, hospital, magnetite hill secret radio station

Locations shift from the intimate space of Jiří's apartment to the grandeur of Balttin Palace, illustrating the contrast between personal life and political power. Prokop's recovery unfolds in the countryside doctor's village and hospital, grounding the drama in human care. A Balttin laboratory and a secret radio station atop a magnetite hill become focal points where science and geopolitics intersect. The settings collectively reveal a world where invention, power, and secrecy shape destiny.

🏰 Palaces 🏥 Hospitals 🏞 Rural settings 🧪 Laboratories

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:34

Main Characters – Krakatit (1948)

Meet the key characters of Krakatit (1948), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Prokop — Karel Höger

A brilliant chemist whose body bears the trauma of an explosion, Prokop becomes the central figure around which Krakatit's fate revolves. His delirious recall and dream-filled insights into the explosive formula reveal a mind deeply entangled with his invention. Torn between love for the veiled woman and the lure of power offered by Balttin, he grapples with ethical responsibility. When pressed by those who would weaponize his creation, he embodies both potential savior and dangerous catalyst.

🧪 Scientist 💥 Destructive power ❤️ Love 🧭 Ethical conflict

Jiří Tomeš — Miroslav Homola

Prokop's old classmate who anchors him in a familiar world and helps him navigate memory and danger. He is the conduit through which Prokop's past and the krakatit formula surface, eventually recording the essence of the discovery. His care and assistance bridge personal loyalty with the broader consequences of invention. His actions connect the protagonist to both ordinary life and extraordinary risk.

🎓 Friend 🧭 Memory 🧪 Curiosity

Anna Tomeš — Nataša Tanská

The doctor's daughter Anči, who tends Prokop alongside her father. She embodies compassion and steadiness, providing a humane counterpoint to the escalating threat of Krakatit. Her presence anchors Prokop to ordinary human connections and reminds him of the value of care amid chaos. She becomes a symbol of resilience in a world on the edge of war.

👩‍⚕️ Caregiver 🏥 Support ❤️ Love

The Doctor — Jaroslav Zrotal

A countryside physician who treats Prokop and helps him regain memory. He provides practical care and moral grounding, representing the humane impulse amid scientific and political turmoil. The doctor is a steady, compassionate presence that keeps Prokop connected to life beyond invention. His role emphasizes the cost of science on human lives.

👨‍⚕️ Doctor 🩺 Healer

The Nurse — Jiřina Petrovická

A nurse who attends Prokop during his hospital recovery, aiding his return to normalcy. She embodies routine care and the quiet dignity of medical support in a time of upheaval. Her presence reinforces the theme that human touch and kindness persist even as powerful forces seek to harness dangerous knowledge.

👩‍⚕️ Nurse 🏥 Care

Carson — Eduard Linkers

A representative of Balttin Works who explains the corporate interest in Krakatit and offers Prokop a path into their research. He embodies corporate opportunism, emphasizing profit over ethical considerations. Carson's persistence highlights how industry can instrumentalize scientific genius for strategic advantage and exploitation.

💼 Corporate 🧪 Science 🗡 Exploitation

D'Hémon — Jiří Plachý

Ambassador D'Hémon helps Prokop escape and guides him into a wider, clandestine world that worships war. He represents political maneuvering and the allure of power on an international stage. His actions push Prokop toward existential choices about control, responsibility, and the future of Krakatit.

🕊️ Diplomacy 🌐 Global

Princess Wilhelmina Hagen — Florence Marly

A royal figure who becomes romantically involved with Prokop during his stay at the Balttin palace. Her relationship with Prokop adds a personal dimension to the power dynamics surrounding Krakatit. Her presence punctuates the tension between personal desire and political scheming in a world on the brink of conflict.

👑 Royalty ❤️ Love 🕊️ Romance

Veiled Woman

A mysterious, unnamed figure who rings Prokop's doorbell and becomes the object of his affection. Her identity remains shrouded, suggesting a deeper influence on Prokop beyond appearances. She epitomizes the unknown forces steering the protagonist toward choices with far-reaching consequences.

💘 Mystery 🕵️‍♀️ Enigma

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:34

Major Themes – Krakatit (1948)

Explore the central themes of Krakatit (1948), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💥 Power

Krakatit's potential to wreak mass destruction becomes a mirror for human ambition. Prokop's invention attracts Balttin's greed, exposing how knowledge can be commodified by those who do not bear its burden. The secret society's worship of war reveals a societal addiction to conflict that profits from fear. The story questions whether technology should be allowed to shape destiny, or if humanity should resist it.

⚖️ Ethics

Prokop's dilemma pits personal freedom against potential annihilation. The exploitation by corporate interests shows the moral cost of scientific breakthroughs. The attractions and betrayals around the weapon's development highlight the risk of dehumanizing power. The ending implies a tension between constructive invention and destructive exploitation.

🌀 Fate

Prokop's fate seems to be manipulated by hidden forces—the weapon dealers and a network of elites who profit from war. The title Krakatit and the secret society suggest a destiny dictated by those who wield power, rather than by the individual inventor alone. The detonations across Europe create a sense of inexorable consequence that haunts the characters.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:34

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