Quiet Happiness

Simple Pleasures is a psychological exploration of the mind of a young woman. It focuses on the ordinary professional and personal problems of its protagonist, 30-year-old nurse Soňa (Magda Vášáryová) – a typical, utterly conformist representative of her generation. Though unsatisfied by her marriage's descent into routine, she has long wavered over leaving her husband, whose opinions differ from hers. Little by little, she finds the strength and wherewithal to know herself, make her own decisions and finally lead a meaningful life. Simple Pleasures is a psychological study of the values of a generation going through – and overcoming – a mid-life crisis. Dušan Hanák augments the film's realism with subtle symbols and poetic metaphors. The magic of the "simple pleasures" occasionally experienced by the main character are brought to life by Magda Vášáryová's performance (awarded at the San Remo Festival of Auteur Films). (Art Film Fest)