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Après l'hiver

Original title: Vratné lahve
  • 2007
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
5.2K
YOUR RATING
Zdenek Sverák in Après l'hiver (2007)
ComedyDrama

A comic love story about a man who refuses to accept that old age is empty of love, meaning and value to society.A comic love story about a man who refuses to accept that old age is empty of love, meaning and value to society.A comic love story about a man who refuses to accept that old age is empty of love, meaning and value to society.

  • Director
    • Jan Sverák
  • Writer
    • Zdenek Sverák
  • Stars
    • Zdenek Sverák
    • Daniela Kolárová
    • Pavel Landovský
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    5.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jan Sverák
    • Writer
      • Zdenek Sverák
    • Stars
      • Zdenek Sverák
      • Daniela Kolárová
      • Pavel Landovský
    • 11User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 10 wins & 12 nominations total

    Photos41

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    Top cast54

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    Zdenek Sverák
    Zdenek Sverák
    • Josef Tkaloun
    Daniela Kolárová
    Daniela Kolárová
    • Eliska Tkalounová
    Pavel Landovský
    Pavel Landovský
    • Rezác
    Tatiana Dyková
    Tatiana Dyková
    • Helenka
    • (as Tatiana Vilhelmová)
    Jirí Machácek
    Jirí Machácek
    • Robert Landa
    Jan Budar
    Jan Budar
    • Úlisný
    Nela Boudová
    Nela Boudová
    • Ptácková
    • (as Nella Boudová)
    Miroslav Táborský
    Miroslav Táborský
    • vedoucí Subrt
    Vera Tichánková
    Vera Tichánková
    • Lamková
    Jana Plodková
    Jana Plodková
    • Cárkovaná
    Robin Soudek
    • Tomík
    Martin Pechlát
    Martin Pechlát
    • Karel
    Bozidara Turzonovová
    Bozidara Turzonovová
    • Kvardová
    Jan Vlasák
    Jan Vlasák
    • Wasserbauer
    Jitka Asterová
    Jitka Asterová
    • Moderátorka v rádiu
    Martin Bohadlo
    Martin Bohadlo
    Petr Brukner
    Petr Brukner
    • Penzista v parku
    Jirí Bábek
    Jirí Bábek
    • Zlodej
    • Director
      • Jan Sverák
    • Writer
      • Zdenek Sverák
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    7.25.1K
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    Featured reviews

    9roland-scialom

    A nice movie for middle-age couples

    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.
    8Red-125

    It's never too late for a career change

    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.
    5pchudera

    New but i've seen this many times already

    In my opinion, this title is good, but not excellent. I've seen many Czech films, and this is just another one with just a little change in motive. It doesn't make you think when you step up from cinema, it just makes you realize, what is happening in our world. The script is fine, but not innovative. There is no mystery and therefor no excitement at the end of the movie. Open ending that doesn't make you think is not a good ending in my opinion. Not an excellent directing is shown in this title, it just follows the script and doesn't adds artistic feeling into it. In motive i find very similar "Stesti", "Samotari". This movies are also about life and when you see them you just realize that this something similar and not new. Even though my score is low, this movie is not a waste of time. Especially if you are not a Slovakian or Czech. Go and see this movie for your self. If you are not very demanding spectator you will probably like this movie very much.
    10diana-urickova

    absolutely gorgeous, witty, eloquent

    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.
    10cultfilmfan

    Empties

    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.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the film there is visible a TV program with a highlighted film Kolya (1996), made by the same duo: Jan Sverák (director) and Zdenek Sverák (writer and a main character in both, a father of Jan).
    • Goofs
      Eliska is supposed to be a professional teacher of German, yet in the German sentences she speaks in the course of the movie, her German has a heavy Czech accent, much worse than that of her supposed student. And, when Eliska is asked to translate the sentence, "I work for the city administration," her German translation makes no grammatic sense ("an der Stadtamt").
    • Connections
      Referenced in Comeback: Lexa a porno (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Ani k stáru
      Music by Jaroslav Uhlír, lyrics by Zdenek Sverák

      Performed by Jaroslav Uhlír

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 8, 2007 (Czech Republic)
    • Countries of origin
      • Czech Republic
      • United Kingdom
      • Denmark
    • Official site
      • Official site (Czech Republic)
    • Languages
      • Czech
      • German
    • Also known as
      • La consigne
    • Filming locations
      • Czech Republic
    • Production companies
      • Biograf Jan Sverak
      • Phoenix Film Investments
      • The Czech Republic State Fund for Support and Development of Cinematography
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,864,149
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Zdenek Sverák in Après l'hiver (2007)
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