Muži nestárnou

In 1911, the young Stanislav Jarský fell in love with Helena Horníková while giving her daughter piano lessons. But Helena was married and therefore this urgent flirtation could not continue. In 1920, a now confident man and an elegant young lady meet by chance and recognize Stanislav and little Jiřina Horníková. Unfortunately, at this time Jiřina's widowed mother is struggling with the collapse of the family factory and so the marriage for a fee has to be accommodated and Stanislav disappears from the scene again. Finally, however, he has his last chance in 1939, when the third generation, Jiřina's daughter Helena Krutinová, is just coming of age. That's when Stanislav doesn't hesitate and doesn't let anyone or anything stand in the way of his love. He’s already greying, but the young girl is impressed... The ideal theme of Men Don't Age corresponded to Oldřich Nový's New Theater and, in film form, to the late work of Vladimír Slavínský. Due to events behind the scenes, the main role was assumed by the truly adorable Jan Pivec, and only Zita Kabátová, who played Jiřina, moved on from the theater production. The result thus crystallized amongst the most classic of Protectorate melodramas. (23.02.2009)

The beautiful Zita Kabátová (breathtaking in the first half-hour), the worldly Jan Pivec (especially admirable in the second "more mature" half-hour) and the swashbuckling Gustav Nezval (swashbuckling from beginning to end) age before the viewer's eyes as believably as possible with the help of masks and their acting skills. Combined with a clever screenplay (each third is a little different, although the main point is always repeated) and the brisk direction by Vladimír Slavínský, the result is a delightful film that I'll definitely watch again. (04.02.2017)