Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Opening Credits & Cast
The film begins with metadata presentation, establishing its 1960 Czechoslovak crime drama context and introducing the protagonist.
Key Events
-
Film Metadata Presentation — Opening credits introduce the 1960 black-and-white crime drama. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Czechoslovakia
-
Protagonist Introduction — Josef Lachman is established as the driver and central protagonist. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Czechoslovakia
-
Family Connection Revealed — Eva Kostková is identified as Lachman's daughter in the cast listing. Characters: Josef Lachman, Eva Kostková
Location: Czechoslovakia
-
Marital Tie Established — Jindřich Kostka is named as Eva's husband, expanding the family unit. Characters: Eva Kostková
Location: Czechoslovakia
-
Supporting Cast Assembly — Key supporting characters Růžena and Jirák are listed, establishing the ensemble. Characters: Růžena, Jirák
Location: Czechoslovakia
-
Law Enforcement Presence — Police officers (Lukeš, Bouchal, Novák, Hanák) are listed, indicating crime drama elements. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Czechoslovakia
Family & Social Ties
Josef Lachman's daughter Eva and her husband Jindřich are identified, establishing core family dynamics.
Key Events
-
Law Enforcement Presence — Police officers (Lukeš, Bouchal, Novák, Hanák) are listed, indicating crime drama elements. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Czechoslovakia
-
Worker Class Introduction — Laborers and construction workers are listed, grounding the setting. Characters: Jirák
Location: Czechoslovakia
-
Commercial Setting Mentioned — Tuzex cashier and sales staff are listed, indicating period-specific commerce. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Tuzex Store
-
Prison System Reference — Prison official is listed, hinting at legal or penal plot threads. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Prison
-
Underworld Elements — VB members and assistants are listed, suggesting criminal investigation. Characters: Jirák
Location: Czechoslovakia
-
Construction Site Activity — Construction workers and a beautiful girl are listed, adding location variety. Characters: Růžena
Location: Construction Site
Ensemble & Setting Expansion
Supporting characters, workers, and location-specific roles are introduced, broadening the narrative scope.
Key Events
-
Construction Site Activity — Construction workers and a beautiful girl are listed, adding location variety. Characters: Růžena
Location: Construction Site
-
Service Industry Details — Barber Stárek is listed, reflecting everyday life backdrop. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Barber Shop
-
Borderland Population — Borderland residents are listed, indicating geographical scope. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Border Region
-
Witness Testimony Setup — Witness is listed, suggesting investigative or courtroom elements. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Czechoslovakia
-
Demolition Crew Presence — Demolition specialist is listed, adding technical plot elements. Characters: Jirák
Location: Construction Site
-
Sewer Worker Mention — Sewer worker is listed, hinting at hidden or clandestine activities. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Underground
Archival Context & Closure
The provided reference concludes with bibliographic listings, framing the film's historical and database documentation.
Key Events
-
Sewer Worker Mention — Sewer worker is listed, hinting at hidden or clandestine activities. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Underground
-
Merchant Activity — Trader is listed, indicating black market or trade subplots. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Market
-
Laborer Network — Additional workers like Kaláb are listed, reinforcing class dynamics. Characters: Růžena
Location: Construction Site
-
Archival Documentation — Bibliographic and database references frame the film's archival context. Location: Database
-
Narrative Framework Closure — Reference concludes with cross-database listings, finalizing metadata presentation. Characters: Josef Lachman
Location: Czechoslovakia
Josef Lachman, once a security officer, serves twelve years for aiding an SS fugitive’s escape. Upon release, he works as a driver on a dam project, hunting buried English pounds Meyer told him about. With miner Rokos’s help, he retrieves the cash and hides it with his daughter Eva, but she spends some at Tuzex, Rokos blackmails him, and they discover the notes are WWII forgeries.