Catalogue of Czech Television Programmes
A biting comedy about the advent of capitalism to the Czech Republic after the fall of Communism in 1989, and how it caught the inhabitants of one small town completely by surprise. This mosaic of stories focuses on lesser heroes as they wrestle the recent changes in the social system with varying degrees of success. The first private businesses start cropping up, as do the first get-rich-quick schemes. The small town does its duty by the restitution process, bringing happiness and riches to some and envy and hatred to others. The remorseless nature of private enterprise under the capitalist system entails more than a few unpleasant surprises for many a green entrepreneur accustomed to conditions under the old regime. In many cases, initial lofty illusions about the big world of the wealthy transform into a struggle to earn enough to put bread on the table. But the political changes also offer many unexpected joys. Thanks to the fact that the Independent Erotic Initiative has carried the towns first post-revolution elections, the locals can finally revel in the gifts brought by their newfound freedom and experience what the former regime denied them: a grandiose striptease held at the local gym. . . .
35mm | 99' | © 2003
director(s): Jan Kraus
producer(s): Czech Television, S PRO ALFA Film
scriptwriter(s): Jan Kraus
director of photography: Diviš Marek
cast: Otmar Bracuzský, Rostislav Novák, Martin Učík, Norbert Lichý, Petr Křiváček, Vlastimil Brabec, Miroslav Šnajdr, Ivo Hýbl, Miroslav Študent and others
original language: Czech
subtitles available: English