Directed by:
Karel KachyňaCinematography:
Josef IllíkComposer:
Svatopluk HavelkaCast:
Jiřina Bohdalová, Radoslav Brzobohatý, Gustav Opočenský, Miloslav Holub, Lubor Tokoš, Bořivoj Navrátil, Jiří Císler, Jaroslav Moučka, Karel Vašíček (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
In the midst of a July night, sometimes in the 1950s, deputy minister Ludvík and his wife Anna return home from a governmental reception. The woman is drunk, feels offended that the husband forgot about the tenth anniversary of their marriage, and keeps gibing, trying to stir a quarrel. In front of their villa, they cannot find the keys. As Ludvík climbs over the gate, Anna finds out it is unlocked and discovers other strange things. Electricity and phone in the house are cut off and there are some strange men moving around in their garden. Ludvík recalls the discussions at the reception where he learned that his superior minister and several other men were arrested. Horror begins to seize him as he realizes that he himself helped to write a critical report on brickyards, which was possibly the cause of the arrest. He begins to destroy documents, tearing some, flushing others down the toilet and burning yet more. The tense situation results in a fight between the husband and wife, with Anna reproaching Ludvík for his unscrupulous careerism. Then a group of secret policemen rings the bell by the gate. Anna prepares things for Ludvík to take to prison. However, the agents did not come to arrest him and Ludvík, out of gratitude, plays host to them. When the men leave, the couple finds out that they "only" came to complete installation of a monitoring system, having been interrupted by Ludvík's and Anna's preliminary arrival. It is morning, the husband and wife, exhausted by fear and stirred emotions, are having breakfast. The phone rings and Ludvík is told he has been appointed minister. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Jiřina Bohdalová
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Dům na nebesích (1984) (theatrical recording)
Těžká Barbora (1960) (theatrical recording)
Pohádky pod sněhem (1985)
Radoslav Brzobohatý
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Král Krysa (1979) (theatrical recording)
Lucerna (1967) (TV movie)
All My Compatriots (1968)
Gustav Opočenský
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Witchhammer (1969)
The Ear (1970)
Funeral Ceremonies (1969)
Miloslav Holub
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Invention for Destruction (1958)
The Ear (1970)
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (1961)
Lubor Tokoš
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Witchhammer (1969)
Invention for Destruction (1958)
Forbidden Dreams (1986)
Bořivoj Navrátil
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Hamlet (1986) (theatrical recording)
The Ear (1970)
Muž v pozadí (1995) (series)
Jiří Císler
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Pohádky pod sněhem (1985)
The Ear (1970)
The Golden Eels (1979) (TV movie)
Jaroslav Moučka
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Men About Town (1969)
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1977)
Sňatky z rozumu (1968) (series)
Karel Vašíček
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Ear (1970)
Marketa Lazarova (1967)
Case for a Rookie Hangman (1969)
Ladislav Křiváček
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
Men About Town (1969)
The Ear (1970)
The Snowdrop Festival (1983)
František Němec
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
Hamlet (1986) (theatrical recording)
How to Get Dad Into Reform School (1978) (TV movie)
The Ear (1970)
Jan Teplý st.
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Ubohý pan Kufalt (1981) (TV movie)
The Ear (1970)
Happy End (1967)
Josef Šulc
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Ear (1970)
Marketa Lazarova (1967)
The Return of the Prodigal Son (1966)
Bronislav Poloczek
Poland
Best movies:
How to Get Dad Into Reform School (1978) (TV movie)
Hotovo, konec! (2003) (theatrical recording)
Forbidden Dreams (1986)
Alois Mottl
Best movies:
The Ear (1970)
The Party and the Guests (1966)
...and Give My Love to the Swallows (1972)
Ladislav Krečmer
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Amadeus (1984)
The Good Soldier Schweik (1956)
The Ear (1970)
Jindřich Narenta
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Higher Principle (1960)
The Cremator (1968)
Waiter, Scarper! (1980)
Karel Vlček
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Dva na koni, jeden na oslu (1977) (theatrical recording)
The Ear (1970)
Jumping Over Puddles Again (1970)
Miroslav Nesvadba
Best movies:
The Ear (1970)
Ivan Palúch
Slovak state
Best movies:
Sváko Ragan (1976) (TV movie)
The Ear (1970)
Signum Laudis (1980)