Summary
A tragicomedy about a 16-year-old young man who encounters the hypocrisy of the adult world during his first job at a small supermarket. This dazzling debut feature film from noted director Miloš Forman also represents a key work of the Czechoslovak New Wave era. In 1963, the then 31-year-old Forman unveiled this loosely structured personal tale, which also serves as a piercing study of the generation gap. Petr starts working behind the till in a small town supermarket; but his real task is to watch for potential shoplifters. At the same time, Petr is also under pressure from his well-meaning, but imperceptive father. Petr doesn’t even feel at ease among his own contemporaries. The authenticity of this timeless film, shot in the town of Kolín, is aided by several non-actor “discoveries” by Forman – namely Ladislav Jakim as Petr and Jan Vostrčil as a band member. Černý Petr (Black Peter) also sees a breakout performance by the then 21-year-old (but already experienced) actor Vladimír Pucholt, who would become a major performer of choice for the New Wave crowd.
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