It is not perfect, but it did not deserve to be consigned to oblivion because it was stigmatised as propaganda. To begin with, the Czechoslovakians were under German occupation for six years, so is self-determination and emancipation considered propaganda? Who in their right mind would say such a thing? On the other hand, the film is Czechoslovakian, and it was the Soviets who appropriated the uprising that was planned and orchestrated from the outset (even before Hitler’s death on 30 April) by Czechoslovakian leaders and the civil resistance in Prague – disorganised, yes, but not Soviet. Later, it is true, the Council of Three (made up of the Czechoslovak Army, the Communist Party and pro-Western groups) coordinated clandestine actions, sabotage and radio broadcasts.

The plot begins with the Pankrác prison riot and, in the midst of Prague in turmoil, Rudolf Strecha takes refuge and accidentally meets Erika, who gives him clothes—at least two sizes too big—and they head for the train station, but neither of them achieves their goal and, by nightfall, Rudo has nowhere to sleep and Erika does not want to spend the night alone. The game of misunderstandings is amusing as they spend the night in the same room: for example, she assumes that he will jump on her for sex, while he assumes that she is pretending the whole time but is actually afraid of being alone because of the ‘street guerrilla warfare’.

At dawn, they treat each other better, but when she throws feathers from her cushion or pillow out of the window, shooting starts at the second or third floor apartment where they are. It must be acknowledged that the film suffers from a somewhat scattered script, because it is divided into scenes with Rudolf and Erika at times, and at other times with the partisan soldiers, many of whom are volunteers who have clearly never held a weapon in their hands and are now carrying them against the Nazi army as they comb the streets and main roads.

Elsewhere, for example in Bochum, the Soviets enter in a procession of tanks, and the story is balanced by the siege of Erika and Rudolf, who must take cover in the house. There are powerful scenes showing missiles and rockets being fired and tanks raiding and destroying everything in their path.

The fighting continues against the apartment and the two young people have to sneak out onto the roof. In vain. At least before the bloody end, a first and last kiss from her to him seals what was initially rejection. Prague is liberated, but the bodies of the two lie on the roof. The cheers claim victory that not everyone will share.