In a industrial city in the Czech Republic, Monika 'Moni' (Tatiana Vilhelmová), Tonik (Pavel Liska) and Dasha (Anna Geislerová) are old friends that live in a working class building.
Moni's boyfriend Jirka has just emigrated to the United States of America expecting to have a better life and promises to bring Moni later. Her mother Jirina, who is a woman frustrated with her marriage with the unemployed Olda Soucek, presses Moni to move on together with Jirka, but her father would rather prefer his daughter to stay in their country.
Tonik is a loser, but a good man, that has an unrequited love for Moni. His estranged father would like him to work in the local factory, but Tonik has chosen to move to the ruined house that belonged to his grandfather and the factory wants to buy where his aunt lives.
Dasha is an unbalanced, neglectful and ungrateful single mother with two sons, Denis and Pat, and has an affair with the married Jára (Marek Daniel). When Dasha has a mental breakdown, she is interned in a psychiatric hospital and Moni decides to stay in the Czech Republic with the children, otherwise they will be sent to the orphanage. She moves to Tonik's house and together with his aunt, they work hard to restore the house. Out of the blue, Dasha returns to take her children.
"Stesti" is a powerful and realistic drama about relationship, friendship, feelings, love, ingratitude, happiness and many other emotions. The top-notch performances give the sensation of a documentary and it is interesting to see the children growing up along eighteen months of filming.
Moni is an enlightened character and Tatiana Vilhelmová is a very beautiful woman. Fortunately "Stestí" is an European film therefore with a realistic conclusion without false redemption. I am sure that Moni will find Tonik since his father lives in the same building of her family and her travel is certainly to meet him. My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "Algo Como a Felicidade" ("Something Like Happiness")
