People are afraid of the usurer Chazaj and are convinced that he is the bearer of evil. One day Chazaj pays a visit to the poor artist Simon Jordán and asks him to paint his portrait. Simon agrees but as he progresses with the work his mind conjures up terrible thoughts and in the end he commits suicide. The portrait looks lifelike and Chazaj is content with the results. After Chazaj's death the picture changes hands and brings misfortune to all who own it. The last victim is the young painter Roman who buys Chazaj's portrait in a bazaar. He finds a treasure in the frame and begins to live well off it. The comfortable life suits him so well that he rejects his original artistic aims and becomes a painter of fashionable kitsch.

Directed by: Jiří Slavíček
Written by: František Vlček
Runtime: 87 minutes
Cast:
Otomar Krejča Otomar Krejča
Simon Jordán / Stepán Jordán 
Luba Skořepová Luba Skořepová
Martina Jordánová 
Vladimír Šmeral Vladimír Šmeral
Painter Roman 
Ladislav Kulhánek Ladislav Kulhánek
Professor Mikulás 
Karel Dostal Karel Dostal
Extortioner Chazaj 
Rudolf Deyl Rudolf Deyl
Jáchym 
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Also known as:
  • The Portrait