A Double Life

The village girl Žofka goes to work in Prague, where she is seduced by the reckless Rudolf Slaba. Rudolf is fired from his job for drunkenness and Žofka leaves him after the birth of her child. On the advice of an old beggar, she starts begging for a living, but is imprisoned, although she is innocent. After her release, she wants to drown herself with the child, but faints and then believes that the child has drowned. Mrs. Robová takes in the poor Žofka. After her death, Žofka inherits the money. With a guilty conscience, she returns to the village of Dubová, where she marries Jan Rokyta. However, the marriage is childless. The son of a landowner, Jaroslav Beneš, meets the charming Jitřenka in Prague. She is expecting a child with Jaroslav, but his parents prevent the wedding. Jaroslav's confidante Žofka learns from Jitřenka's parents that Jitřenka was found in a boat on the river, and recognizes her as her daughter. (Filmový přehled)

Directed by Václav Kubásek, A Double Life leans on a strong ensemble — Mary Jansová, Saša Dobrovolná, Jan W. Speerger — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1924.