Set in Prague in 1988, Louka (Zdenek Sverak) is a concert cellist. He use to be part of the philharmonic after being blacklisted by the government because he has a brother that emigrated. So now he is trying to make a living playing funerals. Needless to say it doesn't pay the greatest, so he takes up other odd jobs as well. He has sworn he would never get married because he was going to dedicate his life to music. But that doesn't mean he can have a couple lady friends over ever now and then or whenever he gets the opportunity really. He owes the groundskeeper at the graveyard a lot of money and the groundskeeper knows just the perfect way to get it. He has an aunt who has a niece that is looking to become a Czech citizen. She just needs to get married. If he agrees to marry her then he will get a large sum of money.
Although he doesn't speak one word of Russian (which is what she is), he gets desperate and agrees to marry her. But soon after the marriage she runs off to West Germany to be with her married boyfriend, leaving her five year old son Kolya (Andrei Chalimon) behind. At first the boy stays with his grandmother, but after she has a stroke and dies, Kolya goes to stay with Louka. Although Louka is a annoyed with his new roommate, he lets him stay in case the police question his fake marriage. He soon begins to care for the boy, something he didn't think possible. And even starts turning down woman and taking responsibility for Kolya.
The film was a little slow at times, but that Kolya was too cute. And pair him up with a grumpy old womanizer, brilliant. At times it didn't seem like the two really liked each other and I wasn't sure if Kolya was just shy or hated him but towards the end of the movie they really started to click, which I guess is the point. I was just really annoyed with the mother. Who does that to their son for a married man? Ugh.
Rating: ***
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