Whose Run It Is

Politically engaged filmmaking in the 1970s and 80s often addressed working environment themes. One such typical example of the era is this 1980 drama made by director Antonín Kachlík, produced with more than a nod to the socialist “Building a better future” school of thought. The protagonist, foreman František Pelant (nicknamed “Rámus” (“Hullaballoo”) and played by Jiří Žák), suffers a heart attack when the stress of work at the building site of a new high-rise concrete panel housing estate gets the better of him. Even from his hospital bed, Pelant tries to go on solving problems at the site caused by a factory supplying faulty panels and the thieving project management. However, young crane operator Hedvika (Marta Malá) and communist party officials stand up for this virtuous worker... Neither the undramatic take on the topic nor Kachlík’s directing make this film more convincing. Some credit can go to the casting of the main characters when it comes to what makes the motion picture a bit more attractive to viewers. Svatopluk Beneš, playing the part of a cheated old architect, puts in his customarily good performance.