Morgiana is a Czechoslovakian film released in 1972. The film is an adaptation of the novel by Alexander Grin and is directed by Juraj Herz. The story is set in the early 20th century and revolves around two sisters, Klara and Viktoria.
Klara is the elder sister who is beautiful, gentle, and kind-hearted. She is loved by many, including her own sister Viktoria. Viktoria, on the other hand, is jealous of Klara's popularity and is consumed by her own ambition. She is beautiful too but has a twisted personality.
Out of jealousy and malice, Viktoria starts to plot against Klara. She doses Klara's tea with a slow-acting fatal substance, which makes her gradually weak, and her health deteriorates. Despite knowing that her sister is dying, Viktoria displays no remorse and takes steps to consolidate her own position.
As Klara grows weaker, Viktoria's guilt becomes unbearable, and she starts to hallucinate and spiral into madness. She is haunted by the ghost of her sister, and this affects her emotionally and mentally. She is even blackmailed by a mysterious stranger who threatens to reveal her crime.
Viktoria's ambition and fear of exposure lead her to kill others, which only heightens her anxiety and paranoia. Eventually, she realizes that she is trapped and cannot escape the guilt of her actions. The film ends with Viktoria accepting her fate and jumping off a balcony to her death.
Morgiana is a psychological thriller that explores the themes of envy, guilt, and madness. The film's visual style is compelling, with surreal and dreamlike sequences that enhance the film's eerie atmosphere. The performances of Iva Janzurovรก, who plays Viktoria, and Hana Maciuchovรก, who plays Klara, are outstanding and add depth and complexity to their characters.