Alibi

105% Alibi, the first of a trio of crime films featuring the investigator duo Tůma – Líbal, represented a breakthrough at a time when the detective genre in Czechoslovakia was in crisis, trapped in the templates of period-appropriate themes. In addition to depicting the systematic work of the socialist police apparatus, the story of the search for the murderer of a lottery winner brought successfully built tension with noirish touches, thanks to Josef Střecha’s cinematography and Štěpán Lucký’s music. The casting of the central pair (Karel Höger, Josef Bek), the complementarity of the contrasting characters of the police officers and the organic element of humor, often based on their interaction, are an integral part of the success. Positive audience and critical reception gave other filmmakers the opportunity to develop the detective story in Czechoslovakia and enabled the creation of a trio of films with Major Kalaš between 1963 and 1969, which represent the pinnacle of the genre. (Noir Film Festival)