Friendship Is Worth Fighting For

First love can end up tragically for those involved, but for filmmakers it is often an inspiration for a tragicomic tale. This is true in the case of this 1985 movie, filmed by director Vladimir Drha, about two boys in the eighth class who have changed from friends into implacable rivals. Naturally the cause of the schism between Standa and Robert is not just their classmate Zuzana, but also the differing social status between the two heroes. Whilst Robert’s wealthy parents spoil him in every way possible, Standa has to defend his hobby – playing in a rock band – from the entire world. His parents think it’s a waste of time and would rather see their son spending the money he earns working in a boiler room on something more “sensible”. The main roles in this pleasant film, which unwittingly informs us about the realities of Czechoslovak education, were taken by the now forgotten child actors Martin Krb and Jiří Devátý.