It's a film festival as political act. Thirteen days of screening the best and latest films from the member nations of the European Union should present, in bold relief, the differences — and, more importantly, the similarities — that exist within this federation of cultures.

Every EU country is represented here, along with four future hopefuls: Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania (which puts in a very strong showing), as well as a German co-production with Turkey. With only a few notable exceptions, the vast majority of films feature English subtitles, while the Czechs will have to rely on headphones for their translations.

With 40 films, there should be something for all tastes. The selections below are our picks for the highlights of the next two weeks. For full schedule information, consult the Aero and Světozor schedules on the following pages. For further information on the festival, check www.eurofilmfest.cz

In Your Hands (Forbrydelser) (Czech title: Do tvých rukou)—Denmark, 2003. Annette Olesen, director. Ann Eleonora Jorgensen, Trine Dryholm and Lars Ranthe star. In Danish with English subtitles. Olesen's contribution to Dogme 95's dictates has been garnering serious critical attention. Set in a women's prison, the film, done in Bergmanesque overtones, explores various crises of faith — particularly that experienced by Anna, the prison chaplain, after she meets an inmate named Kate, who seems to possess occult knowledge. Stephen Holden of The New York Times writes, "The performances, especially Ms. Dyrholm's charismatic, faintly ominous Kate, are as impressive as the film's framework, which ultimately closes in around the characters with a chilling finality."

La Femme de Gilles (Czech title: Gillesova žena)—Luxembourg, Belgium, France, 2004. Frédéric Fonteyne, director. Emmanuelle Devos, Clovis Cornillac, Laura Smet and Chloé Verlinden star. In French with English subtitles. A housewife who has devoted her complete existence to her husband and family must face the realization that her husband has been having an affair. What's even more soul-destroying is for her to discover with whom he's sleeping. Devos has been much admired for her portrayal of the wife, Elisa. David Ng writes in The Village Voice, "Devos' performance is an expert workshop of internalized emotions and silent forbearance."

When the Sea Rises (Quand la mer monte) (Czech title: Když moře stoupá) —Belgium and France, 2004. Yolande Moreau and Gilles Porte, directors. Yolande Moreau, Wim Willaert, Bouli Lanners and Vincent Mahieu star. In French with English subtitles. Winner of Cesars for Best First Film and Best Actress, this quirky on-the-road romance features Yolande Moreau as an actress who tours a one-woman show and meets a young man who operates a parade float. Newsday's Jan Stewart writes, "When the Sea Rises smartly weaves Moreau's lyrically slapstick solo show Dirty Business into this shaggy dog romance, making a heartfelt contrast between the thrilling spontaneity of theater and the fizzy unpredictability of life."

The Python (Pitons) (Czech title: Krajta)—Latvia, 2003. Laila Pakalnina, director. MÇra ľimele, Juris Grave, Januss Johansons and Ilze Pukinska star. In Latvian with English subtitles. Cult Latvian director Pakalnina is getting a committed following outside of the Baltics. Her "absurd drama" takes place in a dysfunctional girls' school ruled by an ogress headmistress who loses whatever grip she had on reality after a prank. David Stratton of Variety says, "Though unquestionably not a film for everyone, and virtually unclassifiable, The Python is an utterly disarming experience."

Frozen (Czech title: Pod bodem mrazu)—UK, 2005. Juliet McKoen, director. Shirley Henderson, Roshan Seth, Ger Ryan and Richard Armitage star. An unsettling mystery that has a young Scottish woman trying to discover the truth behind the disappearance of her sister. The BBC's Alex Crawford says, "McKoen shows a skill for finding the heart of a place, for pinpointing the mood and it is a beautifully stark film. Recommended."

Pride and Prejudice (Czech title: Pýcha a předsudek)—UK, 2005. Joe Wright, director. Keira Knightley, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Judi Dench and Matthew Macfadyen star. See Review.

Mrs. Henderson Presents (Czech title: Show začíná)—UK, 2005. Stephen Frears, director. Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, Kelly Reilly, Christopher Guest and Anna Brewster star. What could be more perfectly British than a film about theatrical troupers during the Blitz? Kenneth Turan of The Los Angeles Times writes of the star, "Dench has an Oscar and all kinds of awards behind her, but this tart-tongued role is one of her very best."

The Death of Mr. Lazarus (Moartea domnului Lazarescu) (Czech title: Smrt Pana Lazaresca)—Romania, 2005. Cristi Puiu, director. Ion Fiscuteanu, Luminita Gheorghiu, Mihai Bratila and Doru Ana star. In Romanian with English subtitles. This mordantly bleak Romanian The Hospital has struck a chord with international audiences for its brutal take on health care. Ed Gonzalez of Slant Magazine writes, "The Death of Mr. Lazarus comes on like a force of nature; radiating a startling intensity, the film demands to be reckoned with."

Caché (Czech title: Utajený)—France, 2005. Michael Haneke, director. Daniel Auteuil, Juliette Binoche, Maurice Bénichou and Bernard Le Coq star. In French with Czech subtitles. This film, unfortunately, comes without English titles. But for French and Czech speakers, the French thriller Caché was one of the most highly rated films of last year. Writing in Rolling Stone, Peter Travers says, "By the final riveting and static images, fear and guilt have become almost palpable. You won't be able to look away."