Landscape with Furniture

In 1986 fledging actor Vladimír Javorský appeared in a brace of films by noteworthy directors – Juraj Herz’s stylised fairy tale Přezůvky štěstí (Galoshes of Fortune) and Karel Smyczk’s casual drama Krajina s nábytkem (Landscape with Furniture). His lead role in Smyczk’s tragicomic picture launched the career of Javorský, then 24. The director had previously specialised in films with younger teen characters. However, in Landscape with Furniture Javorský’s lead character is the carefree 19-year-old Zdeněk, who decides to take responsibility for unplanned fatherhood. A conservatory student who works as a postman during the holidays, he has just found out that Eva, a summer fling, is pregnant. He resolves to adapt to his life to the new role, though this does not alter the fact he is not the father of the irresponsible Eva’s child. Zdeněk decides to look after little Tomášek, utterly transforming his hitherto existence… The story of a naive and idealistic young man who manages to stand on his own feet and ceases to succumb to the manipulation of those around him or his own illusions explores the subject of “single fatherhood”, which in the mid-1980s was seen as unusual and attractive. It was embodied in book form by novelist Zdeněk Rosenbaum, while screenwriter Milan Ležák developed the original into a credible film narrative. Smyczk’s measured direction provides a framework for a high-quality cast in which alongside Javorský Yvetta Kornová shines as the untrustworthy Eva. Kornová had earlier been in the director’s debut Housata (Gosling) (1979), while Michal Suchánek, who played the protagonist’s pal Franta, was among his favourite actors (1980’s Jen si tak trochu písknout [Just to Whistle a Bit] and Sněženky a machři [Snowdrops and Daredevils] from 1982). The academic painter Douda, whose Zdeněk believes has a tragic artistic fate, was portrayed by Petr Čepek. Director Evald Schorm appeared as Vondruška, the protagonist’s professor.