Československá televize

A grotesque and self-ironic reflection on the last things, and how you have to work for yourself.

A young man living in a strictly run boarding house secretly brings a girl of loose morals into his room at night, who is nevertheless well-groomed and takes great advantage of her situation. For the heart of the comedy lies in the problem of how to get rid of a difficult girl in the morning.

The dramatization of the Old Prague short story by the writer Ignát Herrmann is an acting concert by Jan Pivec. In this film from 1964, the actor let all registers of his mature acting sound, from outright comical positions to tones sounding with tragic undertones. And although the character of Vavřinec Konopka clearly dominates in this story, the great actor disciplinedly left enough space for his teammates, especially Jaroslav Marvan, Dana Medřická (her poisonous Petronila is an excellent figure), the modest Libuša Havelková and the bohemian Josef Kemr and everyone else. The director František Filip was actually the conductor here, who got a beautifully coordinated orchestra of soloists at his disposal... But let's go back to the century before last. Where is the dignified and rather burly official Mr. Konopka peláší? And even runs with a jet and without a hat…