Trilogie Zahradnictví II: DEZERTÉR

When private companies are nationalized in Czechoslovakia in 1948, Otto Böck is only allowed to work as an employee in his hairdressing salon, into which he had put his heart and soul before the war and occupation. Especially unbearable is the fact that Ludvík Kubeš is to be his boss, until recently an apprentice who had gained attention mainly for his laziness and clumsiness. No wonder Otto's son Karel wants to score off the Communist Kubeš. He secretly mixes something into the shampoo – but unfortunately at the very moment several extremely influential customers enter the hairdressing salon. The film, which takes place between 1947 and 1953, describes the atmosphere of fear in the years of Stalinism very poignantly, a time when Czechoslovakia was rigorously nationalized and politically “non-sympathetic” people were dismissed from work. Anyone who defied risked a lot, possibly even their life. CF