Czech Film Center

Synopsis

Prague 1947 – a time of sensuality, extravagance, wit and great expectations.
Ivan Heinz, a good-looking dandy with a provocative sense of humour has just turned 19. Running away
from home he devotes himself to the celebration of freedom, revolutionary politics and artistic aspiration.
He lives for the moment, discards the past, writes poetry and blindly immerses himself in his own world
of idealistic politics, surrealism and personal discovery.
And life is good, when savored through a haze of hedonism and in the company of a fascinating, stylish
woman who awakens his powerful sexuality. Ivan writes poetry and throws himself headlong into
a destructive romance with independent, bisexual Jana. The two lovers lead an eventful life together,
peppered with inspiring erotic games, arguments and explosive laughter, all against a backdrop of 1940s
dance music and dramatic political change. As the new Communist regime begins to reveal its oppressive
side, however, Ivan and Jana, infatuated pleasure-seekers blind to the looming danger, are like light-footed
dancers balancing on a razor blade. Thumbing their noses at work, they support themselves through petty
theft. Weaving fantastic visions of their future, they plan their escape to Paris. But confrontation with the
very regime that Ivan espouses comes harshly and unexpectedly. It is Ivan’s tenacity and single-
mindedness that allow him to survive the traumatic events he has stumbled into. His redemption is as
profound as it is unexpected.