Velká sázka o malé pivo

Yes, I admit publicly, with some reservations, Josef Jelínek, the infamous crook who sold Karlštejn and the trolley line in Prague, is my maternal great-uncle. Normally I would brag about it more often, because having such a scumbag in the family is – how to say it – interesting (?), photogenic (?), after all, our Švejk nature has always favored characters like Janošik and other scoundrels who took from the rich and gave nothing to the poor (ahem). What I can't forgive Jelínek for (and that's why I hardly ever mention him to my friends) is his antisemitism, which I have always found repugnant. After the war, this black sheep of our family packed up and went to Italy, where he had a very successful career as a painter that even earned him an invitation from the Pope. But that's another chapter of his life that went completely outside of our family. We have only one photo of him together with my great-grandmother and other family members and the occasional interest of writers who ask us now and then for photographic material and other documents. And the film itself? An utterly mediocre, unfunny tale that I wouldn't have batted an eyelid at if it weren't for my family connections. (22.12.2015)

Quite suitable for relaxation. Like many, I was bothered by the songs, which were played in the film probably to evoke the atmosphere of the time. Which was unnecessary. You can find a cut of the songs (in addition to the whole film) on YouTube - it lasts almost a quarter of an hour, and that's too much. Otherwise, of course, I praise Oldřich Kaiser, who is sensationally snobbish, and Jiří Lábus, whose little thief is perfect. Jiří Císler exceptionally did not bother me. The scene with the handing over of the documentation amused me most of all - Kaiser's facial expression when opening the wrong suitcase full of "Palmal" cigars is quite unique. (26.09.2011)