We See Eye-to-Eye at Last!

The post-1969 films of writer-director Jaroslav Papoušek remain very much in the shadow of his previous collaborations with director Miloš Forman (who went into exile in the US). But this notable member of the Czechoslovak New Wave managed to win over audiences anew with his comedy trilogy about the Homolka family (beginning with 1969’s Ecce homo Homolka – Ecce Homo Homolka). This unfairly overlooked teenage comedy tells the story of a 14-year-old boy living in an apartment complex, and the pangs of his unrequited first love. Pavel Horák, played by Richard Medek, is tormented by the fact that his beloved Zuzana has outgrown his sort, and is instead dating a lanky adversary nicknamed Eifelák (Vladimír Dlouhý). Meanwhile, the adult world appears painfully indifferent to Pavel’s secret torments. The adage that we are all only as tall as we feel rings a little hollow for this love-struck youngster. The quality of this unpretentious film is strongly assisted by the photography of a noted Forman collaborator, cinematographer Miroslav Ondříček.