Paper Sleeve

The title character of this somewhat bitter comedy is Klára Zárubecká, a saleswoman at a train station buffet, a resolute and energetic woman who, with enviable enthusiasm, attempts to restore her family's reputation and thus ensure a happy future for her younger brother. In her everyday life, when Klára forces her customers to buy kittens, rejects a persistent admirer nicknamed Funebrák, and saves money for a large, albeit somewhat neglected villa, her stepbrother Fanda arrives with his girlfriend Erika, and her stepfather Viktor arrives with his mistress, wanting to borrow money from her, as he has done so many times before.

Directed by František Filip, Antonín Holub, Paper Sleeve leans on a strong ensemble — Jiřina Bohdalová, Josef Somr, Petr Nárožný — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1993.