The forth and final part of a documentary tetralogy, The Small Capitalist, which mirrors the ups and downs, even founderings, of post-Revolution Czech society. The opus is shot at the National Theater where J. A. Pitínský is rehearsing his staging of Smetana’s opera Dalibor. The first act serves as the backdrop for a meditation on Czech history and on today’s society, which has, as yet, been unable to reconcile itself to its own past. Political bitterness merges with thoughts about the positions of Czechs within Europe today. The second act brings ideas of salvation: isolating tumors becomes symbolic of new energy within Czech culture. The final act is intended to sum up the Czech Republic’s route towards capitalism. Contemporary economic problems juxtaposed with a look toward the future. How can Czechs come to terms with globalization?

Writer / Karel Vachek    DoP / Karel Slach    Editor / Renata Pařezová    Sound / Libor Sedláček    Music / Bedřich Smetana

Release date / 12 June 2003