Encoding of file names

[utabintarbo]

Here is my situation:

I am trying to programatically access files created on an IBM AIX
system, stored on a Sun OS 5.8 fileserver, through a samba-mapped drive
on a Win32 system. Not confused? OK, let's move on... ;-)

When I ask for an os.listdir() of a relevant directory, I get filenames
with embedded escaped characters (ex.
'F07JS41C.04389525AA.UPR\xa6INR.E\xa6C-P.D11.081305.P2.KPF.model')
which will read as "False" when applying an os.path.isfile() to it. I
wish to apply some  operations to these files, but am unable, since
python (on Win32, at least) does not recognize this as a valid
filename.

Help me, before my thin veneer of genius is torn from my boss's eyes!
;-)