Wind in the Pocket

Although Barrandov film studios called for this “film about youth” to be made, the filmmakers were not allowed to give an honest account of the lives of young people. Nevertheless, this was one of several mainstream features about the young generation made in the 1980s which – more or less unwittingly – hinted at life in the timeless limbo of the “normalisation” period. The films were made by Jaroslav Soukup. His Vítr v kapse (Wind in the Pocket, 1981) and Láska z pasáže (Love from the Arcade, 1984) mixed the realities of the time with various motifs attractive for a general audience. After the 1989 Velvet Revolution, sequels to the features Discopříběh (Discostory, 1987) and Kamarád do deště (Good Pal, 1988) were made. Lukáš Vaculík is, above all, the actor who became a much-in-demand star thanks to Soukup’s films. In Vítr v kapse, he was ably supported by the debuting Sagvan Tofi. The appeal of the feature for the general public was further enhanced by pop idol Michal David’s music. The screenplay, which the director wrote together with his favourite collaborator, Miroslav Vaic, was inspired by Soukup’s own beginnings at the Škoda factory in Pilsen. The feature’s protagonists are two friends, Ondřej Bystřický (Vaculík) and Cyril Čech (Tofi), who is nicknamed Cinda. After taking their A-levels, they begin working for the industrial giant Škoda. The jokes the young men tell to help pass the time have a “serious” undertone in the sense of their lack of freedom and need to express their opinions. The dreams and imagination of the intelligent Ondřej further clash with the reality of his private life and work in the factory. The young man’s girlfriend, Helena (Ivana Andrlová), and his pregnant classmate, Jaruška, also play an important part in his internal struggle. Ondřej dreams of being a sailor, but his hopes for a different life will be scuppered by a tragedy in which Cinda is involved – and by his obligatory military service.