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With financial support from the Czech State Film Fund
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Your mother was a wonderful woman.
Grandpa, look, it's Prague.
That's happening at home.
Story by
Script
Once upon a time or not It rained as if the gods had fought.
BEAUTY IN TROUBLE
Hard to fret Over innocence lost,
Harder the push to clear a debt, Paid by loving whom you must.
Starring
- I glance back... - Dinner's ready!
...through a hole in the fence The door handle's rusty and slow,
Time's pull and mass hold you hence,
And only now do I let you go.
Milan, could I have a little more bass?
- Thanks. - All settled then?
Drank so much more than I should, Drank to no one's health at all,
Of course I knew it did no good, But ever pride precedes a fall.
Of course I always understood That peace within me had its place,
Tranquility for which I would Travel oceans, sail beyond space.
Executive producer
Produced by
Architect
Co-produced by
Costume designer
Sound
Edited by
Before I flee this mortal woe I'll learn the hard way that a foe,
Whether by accident or no,
Photography
Can teach you all you need to know.
Producers
Directed by
Hey, are you coming to eat, or what?
- You should be glad I'm working. - But what about the kids?
- Your sick son... - He's your son too.
Your son's been breathing mold for a year and you don't give a shit!
You just better stop stealing cars or I'm taking the kids to my mom's.
To your mom's? Go ahead!
Fine. I need the bank card and the papers for some car. Now.
Two weeks and you'll come crawling back.
Eat.
Jesus!
- Are you happy now? - Shove it!
Kuba... Goddammit! Fuck! See what you did?
Hurry...
Sit down. Where is it?
Kuba, where is it?
You locked her in?
What else could I do? Last time she was bugging everybody.
- Your mom wasn't bugging me. Hey, was she bugging you? -No.
- Man, this isn't right. - So what do you suggest?
You wanna listen to that crap about the seven deadly sins?
- Come on, man, she was my teacher. - Your mom is up here!
- I owe her. She always passed me. - She's not coming out, period.
Come and help.
Hey, sonny, want a beer?
- And what are you going to have? - Coca-Cola.
Coo-coo-coo?
- Any boys felt you up yet? - What?
- Shit! - How much?
-3,320. Just below the record. - Let me see it. -No way!
- Hand it over! - No way!
- Well, where are they? - Maybe they're pooing.
Didn't I ask you not to bring him?
- He's my husband. He wanted to see the kids. -Bullshit!
- Should I have told him not to come? - He always butts into everything.
What's so mysterious that you have to hide it from Ríša?
Nothing, mom. Not a thing.
Tell me now if you don't want him to know.
Are you serious? I asked my mother to grant me a little of her time
because I needed to tell her something really important.
Now we're in this stinky john like a couple of perverts.
You're the one with the secrets!
- Didn't I tell you to wait? - But I really have to go,
- and Uncle Ríša is odering beer. - Please, don't sit on the seat.
...you sense that Marcela needs you.
She's calling you to take her back,
to save her. She's a part of you.
You are one flesh and one soul.
You can't go against that.
It's His will. It's the Lord's will.
Get back in your hole by the time I count to three.
Three.
What are you doing up? Are you feeling lousy again?
- I was waiting for you. - Get this:
Marcela's mother-in-law is sitting outside in her car.
- I know. -What does she want? Why doesn't she come up?
I don't know.
Kuba... It's here.
Well...
Zdena, what's going on?
I'll explain everything, but not here.
- Where am I going to sleep? - I made up the couch in the kitchen.
The kitchen? And where are you going to sleep? In the tub?
- In here. - In here, eh?
Kuba, get in straight.
They'll be here for a while. Do you mind?
Don't even ask.
- But I want to know your opinion. - Does it matter? You're her mother.
And if you figure it's a good solution, I accept it.
The boy has asthma; he can't breathe there.
It's worse than they expected.
I had no choice.
And I accept it.
I knew you would. Give me a kiss.
A real one.
Zdena, you're a stupid cow who lets everyone shit on you.
- Do you know that? - Like some beer? I would.
Does that old bag down in the car need refuge too?
No, she wants me to come home.
Ah, a very good evening to you. Or is it morning?
How about a snack? We've got everything.
Help yourself:
potato chips,
mushrooms...
How about something chilled? A drink? We've got everything.
How about a little sleepy-bye? Go right ahead. We're here to serve.
Or sugar! Sugar for the kids; here you go!
How long can we look forward to your company?
No idea.
- Go get in the tub. - Get lost. I was here first!
Quiet!
Hi!
Stop it!
Let's go!
Hello.
- Patočka. A pleasure. - Beneš.
I finally meet you in the flesh.
So you haven't been here since way back when?
I have, but not inside.
...I'm sorry but it really doesn't matter.
The court ruled that you have to move out by the 18th.
And what's the date today?
Mrs. Havlíková, you can't stop the rightful owner
from doing what he wants with his property.
But my mother...
- I just hope you know I'm not making it up. -We believe you.
But Mr. Beneš got the house back in restitution and he wants to sell it.
- You're preventing him and that's against the law. -What can I do?
I'm sorry.
Mr. Beneš...
You'd better prepare yourself. This is emotional blackmail
and you shouldn't allow it.
I'm sorry... I didn't know about your situation.
I'm not in such a rush to sell.
I'm rarely in Prague and I can stay at a hotel.
May the Lord bless you, Mr. Beneš.
The top floor is cleaned out and you can move right in.
I can even cook for you.
You can't stay at an expensive hotel when you own a house...
That is, until you sell it.
- That's yours. - I know.
Shall we say hello to my mother?
- Are you thirsty? -No. - No? -Actually, yes.
Here you go...
- What's this? - A Volvo...
How'd you get it?
It's me... You idiot, that car's got satellite security!
Sorry, Jarda...
He didn't want to! It's not his fault!
They forced him!
Please, in God's name!
Let me go! Look, the flood destroyed everything!
Let my son go!
Ríša offered to take Kuba to the speedway on Saturday.
Right, Ríša? Or to the technological museum?
- Ríša? - What?
You offered to take Kuba to see those motorbikes.
Sure, if he wants to go.
Kuba, do you want to go to the races with Ríša?
Sure.
Good. If it doesn't rain... You can decide then.
Okay, I'm off.
- Come here, Zdena. - Cut it out, you!
I'll be lonely on the couch...
Tonight I'll sleep with a hard-on!
Ríša, the kids are here!
- Bye. - See ya.
Not even a pig takes the last one.
- Anything wrong? - A good question.
Keep working.
Let me put it this way:
You had accommodation troubles and we provided a temporary refuge.
You are our guests and we treat you as such.
Hosts have certain responsibilities and we fulfill them:
We share our food, home,
beds, and facilities.
Isn't that so?
But guests also have certain responsibilities.
They must respect certain rules. Let's clarify what those are.
Yeah, what rules are you talking about?
Don't raise your voice, okay? I'm speaking calmly.
Rule one:
If I'm hungry I ask my host if I can eat a certain item.
- Otherwise, it's basically stealing. - You're saying we stole something?
Kids, your mom apparently forgot to tell you that I'm a diabetic,
so I'll explain the concept to you myself.
I'm ill.
Pretty seriously ill.
And thanks to my illness I can only eat certain things
which are hard to find and expensive to buy.
When you're older you'll realize what a problem it is.
For now it's enough that you respect certain rules.
For example, don't scarf down all my diabetic cookies!
You may eat whatever you wish as long as you first ask politely.
By asking if you can have something
you will avoid accidentally devouring
the only fucking cookies the doctor has permitted me to eat.
Is that clear? They didn't teach you at home, so I'm telling you now.
It's polite to ask. Don't just grab things when your host isn't looking!
Fine, we get the idea. We'll buy you some more cookies tomorrow.
But what if I want them now? What if I want to eat the cookies
I bought with my disability check
and put in my goddamned cupboard?
If they'd left any I wouldn't have said a word,
but your kids ate every last diabetic cookie and I get nothing!
You barge in here with no advance warning, and we don't say a thing.
We simply adapt to your lifestyle. And what's the first thing you do?
Like roaches, you act as if you own everything. But you are mistaken!
You are not at home. You are guests! Get the difference?
Okay, he's blown off steam. Now go wash.
No! Don't say, "Go wash," ask, "May we go wash?"
- Do you feel the difference? - May we go wash?
You may.
Go on now.
- That was the last time. - Great.
The last time you pick on my kids, you wimp.
Got a problem? Then run along back home. No one's stopping you.
Hold on. You didn't quite understand.
We're staying as long as we need to. And if you do anything to the kids
I'll call their father to come and explain our rules.
- Shut the fuck up and replace my cookies. -What? -With nuts!
Hello?
Yeah... No, no...
The kids are getting ready for bed.
Just don't give them Ríša's diabetic cookies anymore.
Okay... Bye.
- Uncle, may I have one of these rolls? -Sure,have whatever you like.
May I too?
Why are you asking? I bought them fresh this morning.
And may I put some butter on it?
For heaven's sake, what's wrong? Why are you asking?
Of course you can.
- Uncle? -Yes? - May I put butter on mine too?
Of course. Butter, grandma's preserves...
You're at grandma's house.
You don't have to ask when you want something.
- Anything wrong? - Un-un.
What a dork!
Oh, Kuba, please!
Anything wrong?
No, I'm just taking care of a parking ticket.
My car was stolen.
- What? -My car was stolen, but they caught the thief.
Mr. Čmolík, sign here, please.
That's the crook now.
That's way too soft... You goddamn bastard!
Thanks...
But don't be so quick to judge.
I was there when they arrested him. He's just some poor schmuck.
The flood... The flood took all they had.
The house is destroyed and they don't have money. They're desperate.
His mother almost had a nervous breakdown.
And now there almost like beggars.
Come on in, Mrs. Čmolíková.
That's right...
- I'm Mrs. Čmolíková. - Beneš.
- Is there a way to reach you? - Sure.
Just call when you want to finish us off.
May the Lord be with you, brother. Come right in.
May the Lord be with you, sister. Yes, I know.
All may mend their ways
If their hearts are open.
All may mend their ways
If they seek the Lord's aid.
Indeed, all may mend their ways if they seek the Lord's aid.
Today, I'd like to tell you something concerning Sister Libuše.
Come up here, sister. Come right on up.
Although Sister Libuše's son had a loving mother
who showed him the right path in life,
Jaroslav, didn't listen and went astray.
But I say it's never too late to find your way back to the gospel.
Let us pray with all our hearts that Jaroslav find his way back.
That our love may strengthen him on his way.
That our love may be a light on his hard journey.
Sister Libuše, we are with you at this difficult time in your life.
We promise to help Sister Libuše with her trials.
We are her true family and we will not turn from her.
Let us now pray for Sister Libuše.
Pray for salvation for her poor lost son.
All may mend their ways
If their hearts are open.
All may mend their ways
If they seek the Lord's aid.
Here's what you should do:
First off, not a word to the kids. Enroll them in the local school
and tell them it's too far to drive all that way every day.
I know the principal; it'll be no problem.
In short: get them away from him.
Second, file for divorce right away.
Hold on, Zdena. You can't just dictate to Marcela like this.
It's her family and she should decide what to do.
- I hope you're not thinking of going back. -What about the kids?
I don't know... Tell them their dad's working abroad.
You have to stay here to protect them from the situation.
Then he won't have the slightest influence over them.
But, Zdena, he's their father.
Father, huh? Good lord! Is that how a father behaves?
His actions will follow them: Father's employment: thief.
Education: maximum security. That's just great.
- Show a little consideration. - What are you playing at?
You just don't want them around, but that's just too bad, buster.
This is their home.
It always was and always will be while I'm around.
Sorry, Zdena, but allow me to contradict you.
Marcela and the kids have a home elsewhere.
It's different now because they're having a hard time.
We're all they've got now. And we're going to help them out.
They'll stay until the court awards a settlement
and they can take care of themselves. That's final.
- Someone's at the door. - I'll get it.
- Sorry to come by so late. - It doesn't matter...
Ríša and I knew from the start that Jarda was a loser and a crook.
Good evening.
Have a seat, Mrs. Čmolíková. Like some tea or coffee?
- No, don't trouble yourself. - Oh, but it's no trouble at all.
Marcela,
you can't leave him now.
He'll die without you.
Everything he did, he did because of you.
He's sorry. He really needs you and the kids.
- That's what I think. - He needs them, huh?
You should at least write him... Don't drink so much...
Tell him you stand by him. And go see him when you can.
She won't go anywhere or write anything.
Your son ruined my daughter's life, and he's stigmatized her kids.
- May he burn in hell. - Zdena! -Burn in hell?
That's neither up to you
nor me.
All we need to know is that it's never too late to repent.
- Seems pretty late to me. - Right... I get your drift.
You go visit him. You're that crook's mother.
Zdena, let me say this:
Fifteen years ago your daughter was in a bind.
She was three months pregnant and had left a home
where they were trying to get her to kill her unborn child.
And my son, a crook you call him,
an unprincipled criminal,
accepted her into his home without hesitation.
Then he married her and adopted her child.
He has loved her for fifteen years,
and fed and clothed her and her two kids.
- Now he is in need. -Who are you trying to pin your guilt on?
We shouldn't forget that. Forgive me...
I'm sorry...
Mom?
- Want to see the kids? - Yes.
I'm not here.
What would you like?
I don't know...
- Do you like wine? - Yes, but not if it's sour.
The flood... must have been... The water came up to here, right?
Right here? I don't know. I don't come here. But it was horrible.
It wiped us out. We weren't insured. The house wasn't.
And we're paying a mortgage so we're pretty bad off...
But, anyway, I apologize for my husband. I'm really sorry.
That's not necessary... Does he have a lawyer?
- A public defender. - I have a good lawyer.
- We can't afford it. - Well, we could work it out...
- What would you like to eat? - Are we eating? -Why not?
- You can decide. - Do you like sushi?
- I don't know. But I could try it. - It's... pretty fun. Let's get some.
Oh, god...
Rock, paper, scissors, now!
That's enough.
What?
- It's great. - Really? It's good?
It's called a toadstool. It's sweet.
- I like it. It's better with red. - Really?
- So you live in Italy? - Can I try it? -Sure.
- I don't know... Yes, in Tuscany. - For how long?
I joined my family there in 1967.
I don't get it. Are you Italian?
No, but my parents emigrated to the West in 1956.
- They didn't let me out for eleven years. -Terrible.
My parents thought the Red Cross could help, but it didn't work.
I never saw my father again. He died, and my mother remarried.
In the end, I inherited a big farm and vineyard in Tuscany.
- Didn't you miss home? - No...
Oh yeah, chicken paprika!
- I can make that. - Really? -I'm great at it.
I'm not such a great cook, but I can make that.
I hope you enjoy it.
What a pretty color of green...
- I'm sorry... Forgive me... That's wasabi. -What is it?
- It's for dipping... - Got a handkerchief?
- Pardon me. - I apologize.
This is your first time. It'll be better next time.
- Uncle? -What? - Can I come in? -What?
- Can I come in? - Sure, no problem.
- You wanted to look, right? - At what?
What do you think? You've never seen a man, have you?
He said that? What a mega-dork!
He's so gross.
I'm your slimy uncle, little girl,
and I want to show you my dingdong.
- Yuck, you're so slimy! - I'm your slimy uncle
and I want to show you my jester!
Cut it out.
And how about my breakfast farts?
Know what? I think he hates us.
Know what? I think he wants to murder us in our sleep.
How am I gonna sleep now?
Imagine being asleep with him wagging his slimy dingdong over you.
I wanna get out of here.
We better do him in before he does us.
- Do you go to Italy? - All the time.
We fly to Rome, Florence, Milan...
I mean, of course, the travel agency I work for.
I meant if you yourself have been.
My last vacation was to the Canary Islands two years ago.
- That's nice. - Nowhere else.
It's pretty where I live.
I took the liberty of bringing you a book about the region.
Have a look. Our vineyard is in there, too.
And here's my card in case you have any more trouble.
- You're so nice. - Come on...
- You really are so nice. - Why? It's nothing.
After what happened no one else would even talk to me.
Or they'd just tell me to piss off.
- But you buy me coffee and dinner. - Actually, I'd like to thank you.
It's lovely that you came.
Sorry, I'm babbling. I guess I'm a little tipsy so I'm babbling.
I'm sorry... I had a nice time, but I should go.
We're staying with my mom, and Ríša is watching the kids.
He's a real idiot; I shouldn't leave them so long.
Of course.
Well, maybe a boat will come by.
Yeah? Okay, I'll take a boat.
Hi.
- Did anything happen? - Where've you been?
You've got two kids, and a husband in jail.
I know that.
Go blow yourself.
What does your dad write from India?
What does he write?
Hi, Kuba and Lucina, how are you doing?
What are you doing? I hope you're not... be...
...being naughty, and that you're getting all A's.
I've just been trying to get used to things here.
It's really hot and really dirty.
Now you read.
Here they use bikes as taxis and they call them rickshaws.
Now read here.
And they...
have...
really cheap bikes here.
And I was thinking how Kuba...
doesn't... have a bike.
- And I... - What about that?
- They got cheap bikes. - And you don't have a bike.
Well, I guess... I guess dad's bringing you a bike.
Doesn't he write about elephants or something?
- I saw... four elephants. - And two monkeys.
And two monkeys.
- And here... - PS...
There's no...
- phone... - phone signal, so I can't call.
- I guess he won't be calling. - Mom?
- Where were you anyway? - I met a friend. -Who?
An old acquaintance. Even mothers have friends.
- And where'd you get the book? - Are you interrogating me?
- It's from my friend. - Did you look inside? -No.
Well, have a look.
Money, money, money!
- Am I interrupting anything? - Not at all. Like some coffee?
No...
I just brought this back.
- I can't accept it. - Why?
Because it's too weird. I can't accept it.
I'm sorry if I offended you. I apologize.
- You didn't, but I just can't accept it. -Well, okay...
- I have to go. -Wait... Give it to your mother-in-law.
- Really? You don't even know her. - I do.
I saw how desperate she was. She'll know what to do with it.
Okay, I'll be sure to give it to her. Now I gotta go.
Wait. I have a proposal to make.
I'm returning to Italy tomorrow.
Here's the key. It's to the apartment upstairs.
It'll be completely empty until I sell it.
- Want me to water your plants? - No, there aren't any.
- I thought you could live there. - That's ridiculous. -Why?
Think about it: you need a place to live,
you're getting divorced, it's bad at your mom's place...
And I've got an empty flat and I'm never here. Why is that ridiculous?
You're just a dream, right?
The look on your face suggests the opposite.
Uncle, watch out!
- You don't like me much, do you? - Me? -Yeah.
I bet you and your sister even hate me.
- It's not true. - It is.
That's how it is.
Kuba, is it okay for people to lie?
For them not to tell the truth?
- No. - That's what I think.
I think people should tell the truth no matter how much it hurts.
What do you think?
- Okay... Not much. - Not much what?
My sister and I don't like you much.
I appreciate your honesty.