Dissolved and Discharged

Thanks to its two leading creative lights – Zdeňek Svěrák and Ladislav Smoljak – during the 1980s, Prague’s Divadlo Járy Cimrman theatre group ended up mounting three “Cimrman-esque“ feature films. The faux-biography Jára Cimrman ležící, spící (Jára Cimrman, Lying Asleep, 1983), detective comedy Rozpuštěný a vypuštěný (Dissolved and Discharged, 1984) and the tragicomedy about the goings-on in a small theatre group Nejistá sezóna (Uncertain Season, 1987). Together, these offer the embodiment of the very Czech phenomenon – a fictional genius of all stripes and talents. The film, in which Smoljak serves as co-writer and director, and Svěrák as co-writer, makes use of numerous motifs from the Cimrman theatrical plays, primarily from the detective comedy Vražda v salónním coupé (Murder in a Parlour Car Compartment, 1970) which, like many plays in this group, also features a section with a formal report presenting the life of Jára Cimrman. Rozpuštěný a vypuštěný (Dissolved and Discharged) works independently of the figure of Cimrman. The lead character in the film is Prague police inspector Trachta (Jiří Zahajský), who along with young apprentice Hlaváček (Marek Brodský) sets out to investigate the premeditated murder of factory owner Bierhanzl. He has literally disappeared without a trace: evidently his body was dissolved in a bathtub, with the remains then simply washed down the drain. The circle of the accused gradually begins to narrow to the victims of one of Bierhanzl’s patents – an anti-baldness lotion, which, in reality, causes total baldness. But the story is not merely about a resolute murderer and vengeance-minded customers. It is also about Trachta’s conceited criminalistics rival Klečka. Many renowned actors appear in this sophisticated comedy, including Rudolf Hrušínský, Petr Čepek, Josef Abrhám and Vlastimil Brodský. But members of the Divadlo Járy Cimrmana theatre also appear in multiple smaller roles. For example, Zdeněk Svěrák plays industrial poet Jelínek in this timeless comedy film. Additionally, Ladislav Smoljak has a cameo as a postman, while Jaroslav Weigel appears as the cobbler Pecháček. The Cimrman theatre group makes do without any females (women characters are portrayed by men), but in the film version the fairer sex is represented by Veronika Jeníková and Valerie Zawadská.