This film is now available on a beautifully clean, clear transfer, from FilmExport Home Video in the Czech Republic. I picked my copy up in Prague in 2010, but hopefully someone will sell these DVDs online and ship internationally.
According to the DVD box, the proper translation of the title is "Man from the First Century," and that title makes more sense than the translation provided here. The Czech title is "Muz z prvniho stoleti."
Just before the launch of a modern (1960s) rocket ship, a humble upholsterer is making some last minute repairs to the cockpit seats when he accidentally initiates an early launch, and manages to send himself into outer space. By the time his ship returns to earth, he has had his encounter with the theory of relativity, and while he has not noticeably aged, life on earth is now 500 years into the future.
While the film is very funny, the real star is the wonderfully inventive production design. There is an absolute plethora of amusing sets and props of futuristic design. This is a very complete "society" that our anti-hero drops into, clearly meant to be a version of the socialist utopia that was bound to occur after several hundred years of communism. The "man from the first century" is completely incapable of grasping his own good fortune, however, and insists on trying to impress.
While comic actor Milos Kopecky seems a bit like a Czech Peter Sellers, the film's script is not as good as either its actors or its inventive production design. Pacing seems a bit lumpy, but it is still such a remarkable and unique production, that it's well worth a look.
