The words "Czech" and "comedy" don't find themselves together in movie reviews much, but director Vladimír Michálek manages to pull this off with bittersweet charm. In the fall of their lives, Vlastimil Brodsky and best friend Stanislav Zindulka spend time pulling small pranks and low-grade cons--pretending to be interested in buying enormous estates or sneaking kisses from pretty girls, stuff like that.
But when one of these stunts goes awry, their attempt to set it right sets off a bad chain of events. Brodsky, Zindulka and Stella Zázvorková (who plays Brodsky's wife) are treasures of Czech cinema, and Michálek lets them run free with minimal interference. Though more an actors' showcase than a deep meditation on growing old gracefully, this film leavens its ample humor with some affecting moments. A reminder to us all that life is short, if not always sweet.