Cage for Two

Vladimír Menšík reached the height of his popularity in the second half of the 1960s, as evidenced by the great number and variety of projects with which he became involved. Czech cinema audiences in 1967 could enjoy no less than nine films starring the popular actor. Among the best of these are the historical romance Marketa Lazarová (Marketa Lazarová, 1967) directed by František Vláčil and the experimental comedy Happy end (Happy End, 1967). The love story Klec pro dva (A Cage for Two, 1967) remains somewhat in their shadow but is nevertheless an admirable vehicle for Menšík’s talents. He plays the role of a print shop labourer who has been caring for his mentally ill mother (Marie Rosůlková) at some cost to the quality of his own life. Menšík delivers another of his intimately portrayed commoner heroes who is taken by surprise when romance suddenly appears. The forty-something bachelor falls for the charms of the pretty thief Kristýna (Consuela Morávková). Without too much drama, director Jaroslav Mach presents a simple morality tale about the possibility of personal improvement through love.