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Simply, a waaayyy better than Kolja. Personally, I guess almost anything said about a movie before you see it is actually a spoiler, as it influences the expectations and the response isn't that pure anymore. For those who share this attitude with me, just read no more than the next line. Believe me, go see this great cinematic achievement. The Sverak duo is certainly a kind of quality guarantee. However, Vratne lahve gives you much more than the necessary expectations fulfillment. Witty dialogues, tremendously believable acting, plausible script and humane setting, all of these form a story full of emotions and simple truths most of us value so much even without realizing it. This movie makes you realize all those lovely aspects life and its various phases bring about. ...and one more thing, (this might be connected with understanding the local mentality) watching this movie you will most probably find yourself laughing really whole-heartedly, this movie is truly much funnier than any high-rated comedy, even though the topic and story covered aren't actually that funny in real life at all. Wonderful experience, definitely deserves worldwide recognition, a second Oscar for Sverak wouldn't be too much to expect.

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.

Vratné Lahve (written by Zdenek Sverák, directed by Jan Sverák) Father and son. Ten years ago they made film together, it became tremendously successful and won an Oscar. That was Kolya. After that they tried to tell the story of Czech RAF fighters during WW2, which was not so successful, mainly because of the historical, somewhat pathetic theme. Now they are back. After years and years of rewriting the script, son finally accepted his father's work and made it into film, which may be very well theirs best.

Main character Tkaloun (played by Zdenek Sverák) is an nervous, over-aged basic school teacher living with his slowly resigning wife and struggling to find a new way of life for himself after he leaves his teaching job. When he accepts new work in a supermarket as clerk responsible for storing empty glass bottles, he finds (and shows us) that it is never too late for being kind to other people and for life itself.

This film is very funny and moving - in a best way possible. It is also almost ultimately believable, as every scene and every bit of the dialog is taken from life. Audience in the theater started laughing shortly after the beginning and continued throughout the film till the final credits. Everyone was leaving the screening with a great smile on the face, filled with pleasant thoughts.

I don't know when it will hit the theaters abroad or in rest of Europe. But when it does, be sure not to miss it.

9/10

Czech filmmaker Jan Sverak takes long breaks in between projects, and this is only his second feature film after the Academy Award winning "Kolya" (1996). Again, the film is a collaboration between Jan Sverak the director, and his father Zdenek Sverak, who returns to deliver another memorable leading role. The older Sverak also wrote the film, which becomes more and more evident as the movie goes on.

Zdenek plays a teacher of literature, who is let go of his job, because he can't connect with the modern generation. Though a man in his 60's, he can't bring himself to stay put at home, where the only thing waiting for him is a dull marriage with his wife, who is a German language home-school tutor. So after trying a few things, Zdenek ends up getting a job at a market, where people return the empty bottles to his counter. This is where the English title "Empties" stems from in a literal sense, though it also references the individuals depicted in the film. The old man dreams of younger women and tries to fight against the bottle returning machine, that threatens to replace him at his job.

What the Sveraks have made for us is a feel good movie, one where things improve slowly but surely. It is not plot-heavy at all, nor does it feel dramatic or strenuous as a viewing experience. It is a film, that works well for older demographics. It is lively, but has nothing too shocking in it. The main character's situation may be melancholy at times, but it's not too brooding. The film goes for both funny, and contemplative moments, and in the end, it's a fairly working mix.

For myself, a younger viewer, it's a little too obvious that the film is written by an older man, who worries about what the younger generation has become. The details of the societal depiction are oft-used almost to a point of being cliches. The opening of the film, where Zdenek's character tries to explain a poem to a class of uncaring millenials sets the scene in a black and white manner, and later, the criticism of technology too is simplified and lacks weight. The film is also very loose and light-weight, as films for older people often are. This means that the political commentary wears off and all you are left with is film, that passes the time nicely, even though it's more amusing than actually funny.

What I liked best about "Vratne lahve" was the market scenes, since they carried this Kaurismäki vibe, that worked well for the narrative. Also the acting is great. The characters played by Zdenek Sverak are always a required taste, but after a while, you find some endearing elements about this protagonist too. The supporting cast is also very good. What I liked least about this film was a quick "Kolya" related fourth wall break, since it took me out of the film emotionally. (Then again, if you compare the societal depictions of the two films, you amaze how much the Czech society has changed in the last few decades, which justifies the feeling of modernity being a burden). Also the last scenes did not really conclude the narrative in a functioning way.

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.