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We saw this film when it was first released in Prague, bought the screenplay in Czech, and now own the DVD. This masterpiece from the father-son Sverák team is a gentle low-key story that has appealed here to all ages. It was the most popular movie of the year in terms of theater attendance. The theme is "the search for love" in its very broadest sense, with the sub-theme of the impact of freedom and capitalism on lives in the Czech Republic.

The main character, sixty-five year old Josef Tkaloun, introduces the theme in his classroom of Czech teenagers. In his lesson about a beloved Czech writer, Jaroslav Vrchlicky, he quotes: "For a little love, I would go to the edge of the world bareheaded and barefooted." We follow this theme in his own life and marriage, his daughter's and little grandson's lives, as well as in those of various other characters, young, middle-aged, and elderly, who surround him.

Neither Zdenek Sverák as a writer nor the character of Tkaloun he has written for himself is a judgmental man. Tkaloun's most characteristic response perhaps, is a quiet, "Jo takhle" or "Ah, so that's how it is." Sverák sketches a small world and, within it, gives us a very poignant human story permeated with a feeling of acceptance of all of us in our various weaknesses.

The sub-theme of changes in Czech life since the 1989 revolution may be harder for non-Czech viewers to catch entirely. The local library, for example, has been replaced by a new teeth-whitening business called "Happy Smile." In this one little touch, Czechs will recognize the loss of their public library, the introduction of a strange, expensive, and hitherto unnecessary business, and the current vogue for abandoning Czech for the snobbier, more chic English name.

We also see how the very young, without memories of the "old" days, consider all this as the normal state of affairs, though they realize that their parents or grandparents do not. In a small closely-knit society such as the Czech Republic, relations between generations, whether within the family, at work or school, or in public, have been markedly different in many ways than what one sees in a country such as the U.S. This is now changing with the influx of dubbed television programs, translated popular magazine articles, and advertising. Many youngsters now prefer to go to the mall rather than on the traditional family trip to the countryside, for example. Although most still automatically get up to give their tram or metro seat to an older person, some now ignore this previous mark of well-brought-up behavior.

We should mention, too, that we find the humor delightful. Even on a third viewing we laughed. These performances stand up in the long run.

This movie will definitely be a classic. Thank you Zdenek and Jan Sverák!!!

Empties is a film from the Czech Republic in Czech and German and with English subtitles. The film focuses on a man in his 60's who has just left his teaching job and decides he still wants to work, which leads him eventually to a job as a bottle sorter at a grocery store. At this job because he is very sociable he makes friends with a lot of the customers he has to deal with along with the staff there. The film focuses also on his rocky marriage, his troubled daughter and the many people who come in and out of his life from being involved as a bottle sorter. I really appreciated Empties because of the way it examined and tackled some rather big issues such as a marriage falling apart, working to be useful and as a means of socializing and many of the things that go along with aging. All of these are important parts of this story and at times they are dealt with quite seriously, but the film has tons of wonderful humour in it from it's top notch performances, to the writing and just having the characters be themselves. They are funny because they are so realistically human and everything they say, think and do is not unordinary, or to the extreme and I think many people whether they are a young adult, or perhaps middle aged, or older will find things that they can relate to with this film and because of it's warm hearted humour I think the audience will appreciate such things being analyzed much more and will have a good laugh while watching it. This is not a heavy, or overly sad film. It deals with mature issues, but also has a very humorous and sweet side to it, that you can not help feeling sad for too long, but instead feel moments of tenderness and joy watching the characters and seeing them make their life choices, whether they end up being good, or bad, or perhaps just realistic choices. The film because of it's spirited performances and writing, is very entertaining to watch and out of all the films I have seen so far this year, I think this one will be the most crowd pleasing. The audience I watched this film with, laughed often and really seemed to be enjoying themselves. The humour has a very unique European feel to it and it feels fresh as opposed to all the American comedies that have been out as of late. There are moments when Empties made me think, made me laugh and just kept me in pure enjoyment throughout the film's running time. I think that wherever you are in life, or whatever has happened to you, I think everyone will find something in Empties' story and characters and will have a good laugh and talk about it afterwards. A terrifically feel good and thinking person's movie that has a lot to offer it's teenage and adult audience, so if this is playing anywhere near you, or will be on video soon, I recommend you see Empties. An overall great film.

The ideal viewers for this film are middle-aged couples. There is a good chance these couples will identify with the couple's story.

Joseph Tkaloun is a literature professor who teaches in a secondary school. He likes literature but has no more patience to deal with annoying and insolent teenagers. He is a dreamer and would like to work on activities that would connect him with real people. He retires from his teaching activities and tries several small jobs as a delivery boy, grocery clerk, etc.

Tkalounová, married for over 30 years with Joseph, teaches languages​​, is not a dreamer like her husband, and seems quite resigned to her little life between her household which includes also her daughter, recently separated from her respective husband, and her grandson.

The love life of Joseph and Tkalounová is stranded. Joseph has some recurring erotic fantasies which increase his interest in females, but he doesn't succeed to transmit his enthusiasm to his wife.

The daily routine of the couple goes on, punctuated by discussions at home, small jealousies from both sides, an unsuccessful attempt of infidelity from the part of Joseph, the emergence of an admirer of Tkalounová, a boyfriend that Joseph arrange for the daughter of the couple, etc.

Finally a happy end closes this trivial and "tanned" love story of this middle-age couple with surprise balloon ride.

A very nice movie that is really worth to be seen by viewers of middle age. I insist on the adjective middle-age because I think that young people will not understand the essential.

Can we say that maverick Czech director Jan Sverak has lost his magical art of making wonderful films if his latest offering "Vratné Lahve" were to be considered as an ordinary film ? The answer would be in negative as he has made one of those mischievous films whose message might not instantly dawn on ordinary audiences but allows to appreciate character development which is perfectly in sync with general mood and rhythm of the film."Empties" presents an honest assessment of some very good views of Prague,a city which has changed enormously after the fall of communism and arrival of free market economy.This is not the sole reason for watching this film.One must watch "Empties" in order to understand that a man is young as long as his desire for beautiful young women is intact.In the past,this oft repeated message has been conveyed in numerous films but what makes Jan Sverak film appear as a face in the crowd is that fact that he has chosen to direct his father Zdenek Sverak to direct a film about joys and sorrow of old age of those Czech people who are currently feeling that repressed sexuality of communist times is getting rejuvenated in free market world of capitalism.

Vratné lahve (2007), directed by Jan Sverák, written by Zdenek Sverák, was shown in the U.S. with the title "Empties." The title derives from a second "career," undertaken late in life, by the protagonist Josef (Zdenek Sverák). Josef resigns from his position as a teacher and takes a job accepting returned glass bottles at a supermarket. Complications ensue. Josef isn't exactly an ideal worker, but he does establish a rapport with his fellow employees and with some of the customers.

Josef is married, but he and his wife are tired of each other. (Incidentally, his wife is played by Daniela Kolárová, who looks like the Czech Hellen Mirren.) Josef and his wife are both contemplating adultery, although that's not as easy for them as it might sound.

"Empties" is a comedy, but a comedy with a sad and bitter undertone. Everyone is looking for love, romance, and understanding, but mostly they're looking in the wrong places. Still, the film is worth seeing, especially because of the wonderful acting by Zdenek Sverák, who was outstanding in the film "Kolya" ten years ago, and is equally outstanding in "Empties."

Incidentally, the identical names of the actor/writer and director are not coincidental--they are father and son. That must lead to some interesting moments on the set.

We saw this film at the Rochester High Falls International Film Festival. It will work pretty well on a small screen. It's definitely worth seeking out and seeing.