Run, Waiter, Run!

I have no idea if this movie is translated and presented abroad. Probably no, because it is not so known. But I must say that it is one of the movies I really love.

Translation of title can be "Waiter - run away!". It is story of man who had financial troubles. He was married for several times and had to pay for several kids. He wanted to earn some extra money by playing in cafe. But one drunk guest (when he see him in jacket) suppose he is waiter and pay his bill to him. So the main hero find his chance - he goes through restaurants and acts that he is waiter and asks people to cash to him...

All the movie is full of sweet humor. It has also nice music.

This is one of pearls of Czech filmography. The intro-song Severni vitr (The northern wind) links the fate of the main character with the goldseekers of Northern America, though his territory is much more common - restaurants. Here he finds his original way out of financial problems.

I saw this movie on a trip to Prague several years ago. I missed the title and so have been looking for it ever since. Since there were subtitles in English at that time, it is possible that it may turn up again on DVD. I am delighted to at last know what it is called in English.

Saw this on Amazon Prime. I like to watch subtitled films especially the older ones. You can find some gems out there and this is one of them. It gets off to a slightly puzzling start but the subtle development of the plot is delightful and carries on with surprises along the way and gathers pace with a joyful momentum leading to the climax. Really great. Reading up on the cast is very interesting, they are obviously seasoned performers judging by their filmography which is no doubt why the film is so good. Bit of nudity in the film but it's all justified by the plot and tastefully done in the context of its time.

This movie is written by Zdenek Sverák, the author of Kolya, and beautifully directed by Ladislav Smoljak (Sverák's partner in theater for many years). It is one of the very best Czech movies - it is inspired by slapstick comedies (note the "Keystone waiters" at the end of the movie) and full of great comic situations and brilliant dialogues ("I wish a love story" "To read through or to live through?" /// "Where did you use to sit?" "In front of the class." "In the first row?" "More ahead" "But there's only the teacher's table there" "Well, that's were I used to sit." "Oh... Mr. professor... I didn't recognize you!") I hope you understand the gracefulness of these dialogues from my translation.

I have no doubt - this movie is more amusing, more entertaining and more humorous than Sverak's Kolya.