Catalogue of Czech Television Programmes
This somewhat black comedy with many moving situations tells the old truth that the person who hurts those closest to him ends up hurting himself the most. Martin, the hero of the story, lives in a rented basement apartment in the suburbs. He and his girl-friend serve customers in a small tea-room. However, Martin makes her do most of the work and spends his time auditioning, convinced that he is predestined to become a great actor. However, his is more a case of histrionics: play-acting for his rock-club friends and himself. After one of his embarrassing scenes he ends up in the psychiatric ward of a hospital, where he meets a girl who feels safer within the institution's walls. Martin tells Markéta of the charms of a life of freedom, and persuades her to run away from the hospital with him. But their relationship soon comes to trouble: while he plays the wordly man-about-town, she falls ever deeper into the lonely well of despair that is madness.
35mm | 97' | © 1998
director(s): Pavel Marek
producer(s): Czech Television, Whisconti, Krátký Film Praha
scriptwriter(s): Pavel Marek
director of photography: D. Marek
cast: J. Zuska, P. Jirásková, M. Ježek, J. Macháček, M. Černošková
original language: Czech
subtitles available: English
other data: Festival Awards:
Grand Pearl - Kinotavr, Sochi 1998
The Best Film - Avanca 1999