''Satan's Stratagem'' ( cz, Ďáblova lest) is a Czech crime mystery miniseries that premiered on Czech Television in February and March 2009. It was written by Arnošt Vašíček and directed by Jiří Strach.
Commissioner Sumara and his new colleague Šímová investigate an attempted ritual murder that has some connection to archaeological excavations at the Podlažice Monastery. They ask religionist Dr. Runa for help. Members of
Schola Gregoriana Pragensis
Schola Gregoriana Pragensis (English: ''The Gregorian School of Prague'') is an '' a cappella'' male voice choir from the Czech Republic, founded in 1987 by David Eben. Their core repertoire consists of Gregorian chant, Bohemian plainchant, and ...
appear in a small roles of Benedictine monks singing Gregorian chant.
The series is sometimes compared to
The Da Vinci Code, and Dr. Runa to Robert Langdon.
Plot
A student who worked with her classmates and teachers on an archaeological excavation in the Podlažice Monastery is found frightened and covered in blood (but unharmed) and with number 666 written by blood on her forehead. Chief Commissioner Sumara, who is known for his alcohol problems, and his new colleague are taking over the investigation. They enlist the help of the religionist Dr. Runa. A murdered young man is soon found, again with the number 666 on his forehead, and a pentagram with the number inside is drawn near him. A friend of Dr. Runa's daughter Iveta is arrested because he was near the crime scene during both crimes. But then another murder happens. Dr. Runa comes up with a code by which the killer searches for victims (related to the numbers in the pentagram), and it turns out that his daughter, who has just disappeared, is in danger. Together with her friend, he then tries to save Iveta. The solution to the mystery is mystical and related to the
Codex Gigas
The ''Codex Gigas'' ("Giant Book"; cs, Obří kniha) is the largest extant medieval illuminated manuscript in the world, at a length of . Very large illuminated bibles were a typical feature of Romanesque monastic book production, but even wi ...
book, the magic square 6×6, the
Porta coeli Convent
Porta coeli ("Heaven's Gate" in Latin) is a 13th-century convent (women monastery) located in Předklášteří, near Tišnov, South Moravian Region, Czech Republic, after which the asteroid 3276 Porta Coeli is named. Situated in the valley of ...
and the murder of
Wenceslas III
Wenceslaus III ( cz, Václav III., hu, Vencel, pl, Wacław, hr, Vjenceslav, sk, Václav; 6 October 12894 August 1306) was King of Hungary and Croatia between 1301 and 1305, and King of Bohemia and Poland from 1305. He was the son of Wencesla ...
in 1306.
Cast
*
Ivan Trojan
Ivan Trojan (born 30 June 1964) is a Czech actor, widely considered to be one of the greatest Czech actors of all time. With four Czech Lions for Best Actor in a Leading Role, he has also won two for his supporting roles in ''Seducer'' and '' ...
as PhDr. Michal Runa, Ph.D.
*
Jiří Dvořák as commissioner Petr Sumara
*
Anna Geislerová
Anna Geislerová, also known as Aňa Geislerová (born 17 April 1976), is a Czech actress. She became well known for her double role of Eliška/Hana in movie '' Želary'' (2003) and as Anna in '' Návrat idiota'' (1999). A former model, Geisler ...
as Lenka Šímová
*
Tereza Voříšková
Tereza Ramba, née Voříšková (born 29 June 1989, Prague) is a Czech film and television actress. She has notably played the role of Beruška in the 2008 film ''The Country Teacher'' ( cz, Venkovský učitel). She has also played roles in ''Zem ...
as Iveta Runová, Runa's daughter
*
Vojtěch Dyk as Daniel Ferinčák, Iveta's boyfriend
Episodes
External links
Official WebsiteIMDb Site
References
Czech crime television series
Czech mystery television series
2009 Czech television series debuts
2009 Czech television series endings
Czech Television original programming
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