(For more on the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, check out the two articles in this week's Guardian.)

Protektor (Marek Najbrt, Czech Republic, 2009) Marek Najbrt's pomo period piece -- spiced by switches from color to monochrome, soundtracked DJ mashups, and other bendy tropes -- provides an elegant yet energetic reprise of some familiar themes. Rising Czech film actress Hana (Jana Plodkova) refuses to leave Prague despite the considerable danger posed by her (secret) Jewish identity. Husband Emil (Marek Daniel) is a popular radio host who struggles to protect her as he nonetheless rises in favor under the wartime Nazi "protectorate." But Hana proves uncontrollable as wife and (eventually boycotted) thespian, unable to keep her libido or boredom safely wrapped. And Emil's bosses soon enforce a cruel choice. Protektor is self-conscious, but also surprising -- the highly stylized presentation lends what could have played as an ordinary, earnest victim scenario an edge more seductive than distracting. Mon/26, Castro, 4:30 p.m.; Sat/31, 9:45 p.m., Roda. (Dennis Harvey)

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