Empties

This film is the last in a life trilogy from director Jan Svěrák and screenwriter/actor Zdeněk Svěrák. The trilogy began with Elementary School, exploring childhood, continued into adulthood with Academy award winning Kolya, and now comes to completion with this comic love story about men facing old age. Czech literature teacher Josef Tkaloun, who is past retirement age, realises one day that he no longer understands his pupils, and so he quits... dramatically. What he does not predict is that in doing this he will lose his sense of place in society. He finds himself isolated in his city flat with only his wife Eliska for company. Unsure how to deal with this new situation, Josef tries to find a way out. After a few vain attempts at finding a decent job, he accepts a position at a refundable bottles counter in the local supermarket. In this seemingly inhospitable place, he solves what had been the root of his unhappiness. Surrounded by characterful people and at the centre of a city community, Josef finally finds his way back to his own wife. (official distributor synopsis)