The Chambermaid (Slúžka)

Anke is 15, Slovakian and poor. As the First World War rages, she is sent off to Prague to work as a maid for a wealthy Austrian family. There, she finds herself in the service of the similarly aged Theresa, who goes by the name Res. On her first encounter with Anke, the confident Res appears cruel. And yet, the chemistry between the two girls becomes too strong to ignore. Fast-paced, sexy and witty, The Chambermaid invests itself in the lives of all the women who occupy this world, from the gossiping maids to the grand Austrian matriarchs.

Slovakian filmmaker Mariana Čengel Solčanská and her outstanding cast rivetingly recreate this milieu, taking us on a journey through the chaos of this house, at a time when Czechoslovakia was emerging as a newly established nation.

[Rhianna Ilube]

Czech, German, Slovak and Hungarian with English subtitles

Two screenings as part of the BFI Flare Festival

Monday 20 March @18.00

Tuesday 21 March @14.50