Hammock

Actress Lenka Vlasáková must go down as one of Věra Plívová-Šimková's most prominent discoveries. In 1990, Vlasáková debuted in the lead role of student Lucie in a film that stands out from the usual genre pursued by Plívová-Šimková, a director who dedicated her professional life to films for children and young people. Although the protagonist of Houpačka (The Hammock) is a young girl, she faces considerably more grown-up issues than her peers. The high school student becomes pregnant by her schoolmate, who in the meantime emigrates. She decides to give the child up for adoption after the birth, but afterwards regrets the decision. It is, however, too late… Alena Vovsová contributed to the script of a film that doubles as an urgent plea against abortion. Besides Vlasáková, The Hammock features a number of interesting young performers, with Zuzana Stivínová particularly good in her role as Lucie’s friend, Andula. Magda Reifová, frequently cast by the director throughout the 1970s, appears in the film as nurse Jiřina.