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My Sweet Little Village

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Wikipedia article




'My Sweet Little Village' is a 1985 Czechoslovak film directed by Ji Menzel. In 1987 it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Plot



The film's main storyline follows the life of Otk, a mentally backward young man, in a tight-knit village community. The sweet-tempered Otk works as an assistant truck driver with Mr. Pvek, his older colleague and practical-minded neighbor. Pvek's family takes care of Otk, whose parents are dead. However, the two coworkers become at odds over Otk's inability to perform even the simplest tasks. Pvek demands that Otk be transferred to assist another driver, who happens to be a choleric and suspicious man named Turek. Rather than work with Turek, Otk decides to accept an offer of employment in Prague, but finds he does not fit into the city life. After discovering that the transfer of Otk to Prague was a trick by a crooked politician to get a deal on Otk's large inherited house, Pvek agrees to give Otk a second chance and retrieves him from the city to resume their work together.

The film also follows several subplots, such as, the secret romance of Turek's wife with a young veterinarian, the tribulations of an accident-prone but respected doctor who has almost as much trouble with his pessimistic patients as he does with his car, and the desperate deeds of Pvek's teenage son, who has ardent feelings for an attractive local teacher.

Cast



* Jnos Bn as Ota Rkosnk

* Marin Labuda as Karel Pvek

* Rudolf Hrunsk as Dr. Skrun

* Petr epek as Josef Turek

* Libue afrnkov as Jana Turkov

* Jan Hartl as Vclav Kapar

* Miloslav tibich as Vojtch Kalina

* Oldich Vlach as Jaromr Kunc

* Milada Jekov as Ludmila Hrabtov

* Zdenk Svrk as Painter Even Ryba

* Josef Somr as Director of Devoplech

Reception



In the Czech Republic and Slovakia the movie retains a cult following. The movie gained favorable reviews from movie critics, with Roger Ebert awarding the movie 3 and a half stars out of 4. "'In My Sweet Little Village', (Menzel) discovers some of the same gentle, ironic humor that Forman found in 'The Fireman's Ball'. He uses everyday life as an instrument for a subtle attack on bureaucracy and a cheerful assertion of human nature. This movie is joyful from beginning to end a small treasure, but a real one."

Production



The film was made on location in the village of Keovice, with some scenes in Prague.

Awards



* 1986 Montreal World Film Festival won Special Jury Award and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury

* 1987 Paris Film Festival won Best Actor award

See also



* List of submissions to the 59th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film

* List of Czechoslovak submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

References




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