Happy End (1967 film)
| Happy End | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Oldřich Lipský |
| Written by | Oldřich Lipský Miloš Macourek |
| Produced by | Miloš Stejskal |
| Starring | Vladimír Menšík |
| Cinematography | Vladimír Novotný |
| Edited by | Miroslav Hájek |
| Music by | Vlastimil Hála |
| Distributed by | Národní filmový archiv |
Release date |
|
Running time | 71 minutes |
| Country | Czechoslovakia |
| Language | Czech |
Happy End is a 1967 Czechoslovak comedy film directed by Oldřich Lipský. Theodor Pištěk designed the costumes for the film.[1] The film is told backwards, beginning with the protagonist's death (which he describes as his birth) and ending with his birth (described as his death).[2]
Plot
Happy End tells the life story of a butcher named Bedřich Frydrych; however, it is told entirely in reverse, giving rise to a different story than the one a forward-flowing narrative would depict. It thus begins with Bedřich's "birth" (his execution by guillotine), followed by a "childhood" spent in school (prison), whereupon he sets out into the world and soon marries, although he has to assemble his wife-to-be from various parts (killing and dismembering her, after finding out she is having an affair).
The reversed chronology also applies to dialogue: lines are read in an ostensibly reversed order, variously resulting in sheer situational comedy and dada.
Cast
- Vladimír Menšík - Butcher Bedřich Frydrych
- Jaroslava Obermaierová - Julie
- Josef Abrhám - Ptáček
- Bohuš Záhorský - Father-in-law
- Stella Zázvorková - Mother-in-law
- Jaroslav Štercl - Constable
- Helena Růžičková - Brunette
- Josef Hlinomaz - Commissioner
- Martin Růžek - Prosecutor
- Jiří Steimar
- Bedřich Prokos - Priest
- Mirko Musil - Warden
References
- ^ Evans, James B. (Fall 2024). "Happy End". Cineaste. Retrieved 18 November 2025 – via EBSCOhost.
- ^ Brooke, Michael (May 2024). "Happy End". Sight & Sound. Retrieved 18 November 2025 – via EBSCOhost.
External links