Successful surgeon Tomas leaves Prague for an operation, meets a young photographer named Tereza, and brings her back with him. Tereza is surprised to learn that Tomas is already having an affair with the bohemian Sabina, but when the Soviet invasion occurs, all three flee to Switzerland. Sabina begins an affair, Tom continues womanizing, and Tereza, disgusted, returns to Czechoslovakia. Realizing his mistake, Tomas decides to chase after her.

In a series of sketches, professional film extras come before the camera one by one to recite the text printed on the back of the resumé photos sent to film producers. If some of these presentations elicit laughter, don't blame the extras, victims of their own illusions, obliged to take part in these cheap displays. A film about the cinema and about life, Nature Morte goes beyond cruelty to create a comi-tragic human document.

Professor Choron recounts with his memories as a child of a barrier guard, the 2nd World War with its horrors and the trains he saw during those years leaving for Germany or coming from there, full of French or German soldiers, in conquest or in rout according to the period