viteklevi I am Czech and I remember this movie running in theatres in Praha when it came out. I didn't go to see it but remembered the title. I had no clue what it was about and now watched it on Netflix. Though it seemed quite stagnant and boring in the first third, then it kicked off with drama this was made about. I remained glued till the end and was very very pleased that it carries a message of acceptance. I can only imagine such people in small towns and villages anywhere ... having it very hard, and it feels so warm to see it end as you'd want it to...i.e. well. I hope it is seen by many people especially who need a mind change. I applaud the makers.

jotix100 It is somewhat puzzling to see a teacher from a big city go to a rural community in the Czech Republic. After all, the attractions of Prague being exchanged, perhaps, for the serenity of a simple life, might not be a fair exchange. Yet, this taciturn man gives us the idea he is hiding from something, or someone. The life he can expect among the country folks betrays his intelligence. The thirtysomething teacher strikes a good chord among the young children in his classes. His approach is different from what they probably have been exposed to, before his arrival. Life in that rural community does not offer him much in the way of intellectual reward, yet he seems to be at peace with himself.When he meets the lady farmer Marie, the teacher has been sleeping on a pile of the hay she, and her son, Lada, are loading into their cart to bring back to their barn. This woman, a widow, makes a sexual advance to the teacher, something that he stops. Marie's reasoning is that perhaps she is older and this man is not interested. In reality, the teacher has a dark secret. He is a homosexual. The teacher is an honest man who had come out to his parents. They had no problem with their son's sexual preference.The teacher, who watches Lada making out with Beruska, his girlfriend, lusts after the teenager, but being aware of his situation, he keeps away. In fact, Lada counts on the teacher to tutor him for his math exam. During a drinking session, the teacher takes Lada to his place and thinking the boy is not aware, or perhaps getting the wrong signal, he only contributes to having Lada repulsed by his advance as he runs away in horror. When he sees Marie, who knows about the teacher's indiscretion, he believes he must leave the school because the shame of having blown his own cover. But he does not count in being forgiven by the mother, and the school principal, whose attitude is plain understanding.A sensitive film written and directed by Bohdan Slama. The film deals with an issue that in other countries could had been interpreted as an outrage. In fact, most of the fears in our country are about the sexual orientation of the ones in charge of innocent children, when even for most gays in those positions, the mere thought of abusing a child is as repugnant as the population, at best. This teacher makes the mistake of thinking Lada, being drunk, will not even be aware of his sexual overture, but he is horrified by the realization of how his newly found peace in the country comes crashing down on him.Pavel Liska makes an impression as the teacher. He underplays his role giving an understated performance. Zuzana Bydzovska makes an excellent contribution to the film with her Marie. Divis Marek's cinematography captures the idyllic countryside in all its glory. The incidental music is by Vladimir Godar.

Pascal Zinken (LazySod) The film starts as a school teacher moves from teaching a school in the big city to teaching at a school in a small country village. It doesn't take long before it's clear that he's escaping something - desperately wanting to leave something behind and start over again. When his past catches up with him it becomes clear that there is no escaping it - you are what you are.Set in a typical everybody knows everybody small village this film plays out pretty smoothly, telling its sad tale at a very steady pace. The actors are doing their jobs flawlessly, playing their roles in a most believable way giving the film a very "real" feeling and it becomes very easy to grow sympathy for the characters - enough to overcome the mistakes they make in their lives.I guess one message the film is telling us is that the road to happiness is marked with pit holes and bumps and that it leaves you bruised and battered. It's a good message and makes for a solid but somewhat painful film.8 out of 10 steps on a wobbly road

Toadinthehole Excellent film. I would watch it again.The secret world and the way it seeps through into the real world.If like me you are happy watching beautiful skies and haystacks then beware of a scandalous old flame who may enter stage left and starts to set fire to the whole plot, not just the haystack. Spoiler alert! Maybe. But then you may be relieved the plot never goes where you think it will.This is a very clever film posing as dumb in many ways.I'm a sucker for pastoral flicks. Those leaves rustling in the trees and sunny haystacks make me want to move right there, but will I still want to live in the village by the time the film ends? A cute geeky schoolmaster from the big city lies on top of a haystack with poetic yearnings and I thought of Mr Housman dreaming of his Shropshire Lad and wondered will the lad get up there with him?Watch it and see...and have a cushion to hide behind.....if you don't like it rough...