He chose pigeons over his wedding. She chose violence. Czech comedy gold incoming.
Baker Jan Racek (Vladimír Repa) is a very hard-working and sensible man. His great passion is pigeon-keeping and also, for many years, Ruzenka (Ludmila Vostrcilová). They are going to get married but Racek is busy waiting for the pigeons' return and misses the wedding. The engaged couple is already getting a little older so the otherwise kind Ruzenka gets very angry at this and gives Racek an ultimatum - it's going to be her or the pigeons.
Acting
Vladimír Repa's deadpan desperation as a man who truly does not get it.
Writing
The ultimatum scene: peak 1950s relationship negotiation.
Director
Josef Mach
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Post-war Czech cinema loved gentle working-class comedies; this fits the 'Machatý-lite' tradition of finding humor in rural pettiness.
Director Josef Mach later became famous for circus films and westerns — yes, Czech westerns exist and yes, you should seek them out.
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