Morgiana 1972

Overview

Morgiana is a 1972 Czechoslovak gothic drama film directed by Juraj Herz. The story is based on the 1929 novel Jessie and Morgiana by Alexander Grin. The film explores the lives of two sisters, Viktoria and Klara, who inherit a significant portion of their father’s estate after his death. The actress Iva Janzurova portrays both sisters in the film. The plot focuses on Viktoria, who harbors intense jealousy toward her sister Klara due to her popularity. In an attempt to eliminate her, Viktoria doses Klara’s tea with a slow-acting fatal substance. As Klara grows increasingly weak, Viktoria finds her own success and stability compromised by mounting guilt, the threat of blackmail, and the necessity of committing further crimes to avoid exposure. The production, which features beach scenes filmed in Bulgaria, is considered a highly stylized psychological drama that marked the conclusion of a significant creative period for director Juraj Herz. The film has a runtime of one hour and forty-six minutes and is categorized within the mystery, horror, and drama genres.