The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

The movie Ve stínu (2012) is not just for a story about an unjust verdict that "a supposed history with Jewish smugglers supporting Zionist terrorists".Red Nazi created many so-called crimes of counter-revolution and brutally suppressed with death penalty. The movie Ve stínu (2012) exhibited some historical tenses. And nowadays people can still see like N.Korea, or is else dictatorship power imposed a crime of subversion as trumped-up.The people of legal system states are not easy to understand the theme- connotation of the movie Ve stínu (2012), especially young generation.

Ve stinu aka In the Shadow 2012An excellent looking production set during 1953 in Stalinist Czechoslovakia. A Detective with the Police is drawn into what seems to be a simple burglary case. The Detective, Ivan Trojan, roots around and soon comes up with a prime suspect. The man is soon under wraps at the station. Now Trojan finds that the case is anything but simple. The boys from State Security show up and put the grab on the suspect. Trojan is told that the case has already been solved and to stop investigating. Trojan however just can't play along, and soon discovers that there is a big government conspiracy at work. The Communist Czech Government is planning on currency devaluation even though they are denying this. This action will literally make the savings of Czech citizens worthless. To cover up this action, they are having a series of show trials. The Communists have set up a long con and are framing many of the remaining Jews left in the country. They tell the press that the Jews are smuggling cash and gold out of the country to send to Israel. Now Trojan happens onto the scene of a post office robbery. There are 4 dead and a large amount of cash is gone. Again, the State Security bunch arrive on site, without even being called. They chase Trojan away and again tell him it is a State matter. Trojan has managed to retrieve a shell casing and a spent bullet from the scene. He tells the Security men nothing about this. Trojan has the bullet tested and now finds the caliber is only used by State Security agents. What is going on he wonders. Does he stop looking? Of course not, he is a cop of the old school. He had been a cop before the war, and before the Reds took over. Needless to say, as Trojan still continues to investigate, the bodies continue to pile up. He and his family are now on the receiving end of several less than subtle warnings. The wife is "mugged" and ends up in hospital. Trojan realizes that he is being followed. In the mix here is former German SS Officer, Sebastian Koch. Koch is now working for his Soviet captors on the case. He is helping set up the so called Zionist plot to smuggle currency. He is doing this because he was offered a return home to Germany. The viewer can see that the warnings etc are not going to have the desired result with Trojan. The man is bound and determined to find the real reasons for the murders, robberies and show trials. It will be the death of him.While there are a few plot holes in the story, the look and feel of the film is top-flight. The dark streets, rain, dingy settings are all put to good use by the director, David Ondrícek. The cinematography by, Adam Sikora, is simply awe inspiring. It is noir through and through. The cast is all excellent as well, with Trojan shining as the world weary type who just cannot let go. Well worth a look. The film was an entry for Oscar nods, though it was not actually nominated.

Since I don't know enough about all political issues surrounding the background of this story (like discussed in reviews before me), all I can have an opinion about is the movie I saw - and this European piece of film just got my jaw dropping! I really have to admit: in terms of lighting, acting, locations or music this is the most ambitious detective flick with film noir elements I have ever encountered! The camera work is pure eye candy, the acting all the way believable, the efforts in shooting every take as detailed - or should I say - as "perfect" as possible is just breathtaking! I even caught myself once or twice forgetting to pay attention because I was often asking myself "how in gods name did they pull all this off??"My deepest respect to the creative staff behind this project! This is a HUGE movie made in Europe and I can recommend it to everyone who loves believable stories combined with highly aesthetic imagery and sound.

This movie received many awards in the local (Czech national) competition, but in just about any category I can think of, it is one of the worst movies I have ever seen.Camera: It is called "In the shadow" and indeed, 80% of the time you are straining to see who and what are where on the set - there is no light. It is apparently intentional, but in a criminal story it just does not work. There are too many shadowy men in coats and hats; one is a 'good guy' who is killed in the end, the others are colleagues and STB (Czech KGB) agents, but half of the time you are required to guess which one is which in the scenes.The historical context and plot are just not believable. It should be 1953 in Czechoslovakia, 5 years after the Communist coup and 2 years after the biggest show-trial (see Slánský_trial on wikipedia). Everybody knew in 1953 that the legal system was just being used to murder whomever STB/KGB wanted to murder. This was not really hidden, because the show trials were intended to intimidate the population. All the complex shenanigans in film make no sense. They did not need fake testimony etc., etc. The call mentioned in the other review was not to stop the exchange (and the border with West Germany did not look like that). In short, if you really know your history, the movie just does not ring true; it's contrived.