The Dark Blue World (2001) (Special Edition)

Re-uniting the creative team of the Academy Award-winning "Kolya," "Dark Blue World" takes place in 1950s Czechoslovakia, Communist-ruled at the height of the Cold War. Ex-RAF pilot Franta Slama - a man in his early 40s - is confined to a labor camp as an "enemy of the people" because he had flown for the RAF during World War II. The new totalitarian Communist regime deemed him contaminated by Western ideals and, as such, a potential threat to the State. Flashback to March 1939, just before world peace is irredeemably shattered. Franta congratulates his protege, fresh faced young trainee pilot Karel Vojtisek for passing his flying test. Soon afterwards, Franta and Karel escape Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia and reach England, where they join the RAF. Both men fall in love with the same woman, Susan. For Karel, Susan was his first love, and the men's friendship is put to the test.