"The Halftime of Happiness" is a self-conscious attempt to catch both the thoughts of an elderly man and the atmosphere of changing town. It's continuous mosaic of short chapters in one stage in the life of one ordinary family. The main character is a collier played by Josef Vinklář. He balances his life and the life of his town - Prague (first of all the district of Zizkov). In his cogitation he awakes past times of his childhood, he remembers missing places and people. His best friend (former scientist who had got the push from the political reason in seventies, present driver of their lorry) - played by Jirí Adamíra - calibrates his simple and impulsive interpretation of the world with intellectual look of mathematician - in his dialogs. There are a few dramatic moments (e.g. the daughter is pregnant, the friend is returning to scientific institute) which amplifies collier's emotions and comebacks.
The weak spot of the movie is the choice of actors. Josef Vinklář and Jiří Adamíra play perfectly, but e.g. Zora Jandová and Slavek Janousek are unconvincing.
The weak spot of the movie is the choice of actors. Josef Vinklář and Jiří Adamíra play perfectly, but e.g. Zora Jandová and Slavek Janousek are unconvincing.
