At one point or the other during everyone's life, one wishes to be a millionaire. For Jan Dite, a waiter at a local pub, this isn't just a dream but rather a destiny. Armed with a lot of confidence, ambition and experience, Dite sets out to make his destiny a reality. Consistently moving up as a featured waiter, Dite continues to increase his money. And though he never comes close to his million, he finds love with Liza, a proud German. Once married, Liza ventures off to serve her country by fighting in the war. When she returns, she has confiscated a fortune in rare stamps that were 'left behind' by the Jews. After Liza's untimely death, Dite chooses to sell the stamps, finally accumulating his wealth and able to live happily ever after"¦or so he thought.
While the premise seems pretty straight forward, it is the style in which the story is told that gives the film it's all too rare appeal. Told through a series of flashbacks, we get to see an older and wiser Dite as he ventures out into the woods to live a life restricted by government orders. However, within no time we are taken back to the late 1930s, when Dite was an aspiring money maker who found joy in throwing coins before rich folk and watching them scurry to recover as much as they possible could.
Played by Ivan Barney, the younger Jan Dite is full of wit and charm; swooning over audience members from the very beginning. However, beneath the outer looks, Barney successfully transcends into his character, becoming one with him and selling his actions and motives as if they were his own. The story comes alive with his precise timing and priceless facial expressions; both of which accumulate to form a stellar character that becomes a close friend within the two hour film.
Additionally, Oldrich Kaiser successfully brings the older Jan Dite to the screen, using experience and knowledge to represent age as he focuses on his new found ambitions and works hard to make them become a reality. It is from his point of view that the story is told, thus creating a receptive, almost third person aspect to his life. As a result, the film is able to tell a fluent story that covers many years, representing the change that can occur within someone, whether they want to or not.
But even with the story and the actors, I must comment on the fascinating music that is used throughout the film's entirety. Often resembling the sounds of a silent movie, the music that is used is so quick and lively that you can't help but smile at the simple sound of it. From the back and forth chords to the dramatic jumps all over the keyboard, the music is full of life as it represents a man in his youth who is seeking out his biggest ambitions.
All together the Czech speaking film isn't bad. However, it isn't that great either. Instead, the film teeters that line of normalcy as it proves to be more philosophical and representative than entertaining. Unfortunately, with a dragging run time of just under two hours, many audience members will fail to make it to the end, meaning that the film will have no meaning and no influence on them whatsoever.
