Jiří Schmitzer

An evocation of the childhood memories of Bohumil Hrabal in his provincial town of Nymburk, dominated by the local brewery.

A six-year-old boy's favorite toy is a bear named Cookie. But the child has asthma, and Cookie's old dusty skin is harmful to him, so mom throws the toy in the trash.

Prague couple's home damaged in flood. Wife leaves with kids after husband insults asthmatic son. Husband jailed for stolen vehicle. Car's owner befriends wife, torn between jailed crude husband and genteel new admirer.

The story of an ordinary family living in Czechoslovakia from around 1963 until the Velvet Revolution. Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Michal Wiewegh.