User reviews

Third installment of the trilogy that began with Garden Shop: Friend of the Family and Garden Shop: Deserter. The suitor in the second part of the title is Mirko, who aspires to the hand of Daniela, Jindrich's eldest daughter. She corresponds to Mirko's feelings. Jindrich has grown into a full fledged political fanatic and domineering, borderline abusive husband and father and lectures Daniela on Mirko's shortcomings; he is not to at her level, he argues, which is somewhat cynical since Jindrich always resented having daughters rather than sons and was never before supportive of Daniela. The rest of the family, including Jindrich's wife Vilma support Mirko's courting.

Unlike the first two parts of the trilogy that dealt with multiple characters and stories, this one is rather linear and unsurprising. It shows the clash of two generations, one marked and shaped by the war, the other trying to find happiness and a place in the world according to new standards. As the other two parts of the trilogy, it deserves a view.