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The tragicomedy from the alcohol treatment center brought viewers a believable look into the alcohol treatment center. Behind the film is director Dušan Klein, who returned to work with writer and screenwriter Ladislav Pecháček, with whom he created the legendary “poets”.
In accordance with the literary model, the film from 1988 acts as a funny story about patients from an anti-alcohol treatment center who are trying to overcome alcohol addiction. It’s not an easy fight, but even in such a depressing environment, director Klein found a place for humor. The film also has a second face and deals with the sadder aspects of the lives of patients and their doctors.
The hero of the story is a stoker in the National Theatre Miloš Lexa (Milan Kňažko)whose drinking gradually deprives him of his job. And, it seems to him, also the possible sympathy of the platonically beloved soprano Sonia.
The harsh regime in the hospital where Lexa has to enter is purgatory for the free-spirited newcomer. In addition to abstinence, doctors require patients to adhere to a strict lifestyle and the ability to resist various temptations. The hero’s journey to a new beginning is not easy, but his literary talent will eventually help him find his way back to himself. The film is still popular today for its quality cast. Vladimír Menšík as a patient, Rudolf Hrušínský as the chief nurse, Marián Labuda as a patient with the unusual profession of a priest, Zdeněk Řehoř as a patient, Miroslav Machacek like a painter trying to break his addiction, Jiří Somr in the role of primary and many others.
Each of the characters has a colorful and interesting past that is subtly played out, which they bring with them to the uniform environment of the hospital.
Ladislav Pecháček’s script is inspired by conversations and experiences of people who have gone through addiction treatment. The film therefore has a distinctly authentic touch, which gives it strength and persuasiveness.
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The film was one of the few Czechoslovak films that openly and deeply explored the topic of alcoholism, which was a sensitive topic at the time. People did drink, but this problem was not ventilated much, and alcoholism was rather associated with people “on a sloping surface”. The film shows that it is a problem for the whole society and depicts not only the personal hardships of the main characters, but also the system of treatment in socialist healthcare and the complexity of the fight against this addiction.
One could only get outside the doors of the treatment center as a patient or medical staff, so the audience appreciated that through the film characters they could see how such a treatment, based mainly on therapy in the community, takes place. The various characters in the hospital are not only presented in a bad light, but they are ordinary people trying to fight their own mistakes. And the struggle with alcohol addiction is one of the most difficult. In the end, however, there is always hope that after falling one can get back on one’s feet.
Director Dušan Klein said about the film:
In the end, the inner voice speaks of the hero, the desire to live, not to give in to anything, not to remain captive, not to be manipulated by alcohol or people. You should figure out how to live yourself.
To be seen on CT 6.10. afternoon.
