In 1986, director Vít Olmer created a highly popular yet uncompromising depiction of the gloomy realities of the “normalisation” era. Young widower Antony (Antonín Paleček) is the protagonist of this psychological drama with social undertones. After suffering the tragic death of his first wife, he is pursuing the dream of a happy family life with his new spouse Marta, but it is all in vain... He is resolved to be a good father to his little daughter and he aspires to lead an honest life – but those around him, including Marta, have no understanding at all for his endeavours. The down-to-earth narrative, delivered in a special, dynamic visual style, was an opportunity for the lesser known actor Luboš Veselý – usually seen on stage – to excel in the lead role. Veronika Jeníková, who played the part of Marta, took on an almost antithetical role a year later when starring as prostitute T-Shirt Eve in Olmer’s tragicomedy about racketeers pulling scams with foreign currencies, Bony a klid (Big Money).
Anthony's wife died in a car accident. The car was being driven by Anthony, but it was not his fault. He has a nervous breakdown after the tragedy and ends up in a mental hospital. His little daughter Bára meanwhile stays with the Zachars, parents of Anthony's late wife. The Zachars keep blaming him for killing their daughter. After his return from the therapy, Anthony wants to take care of the daughter himself – but he needs a woman to help. In Náchod, he meets a textile worker, Marta. He spends a night with her and proposes to her the next day. Although surprised, Marta accepts. They leave together for Prague and get married. After the marriage, however, Marta finds out that Anthony solely wanted a child minder for his daughter. She wants to leave, but eventually stays and begins to take care of Bára. Anthony works as an unskilled labourer at a goods station. The family constantly has a thin time, but Anthony refuses any help from the Zachars and he also refuses to take part in robbing the wagons. Marta hates their poverty-stricken life and leaves Anthony. Her friend Irena mentions that she could make a fortune on spending a night with a Western foreigner from time to time, but Marta cannot. The railways investigate the robberies. Sidekicks Mirek a Pako try to kill Anthony for fear that he might disclose them, but Anthony fortunately escapes the fight with only a hurt leg. The Zachars again tend to Bára during his treatment. Marta finds herself a job and returns to Anthony and Bára.
Antonín Paleček zvaný Antony
Marta Šilhavá
Bára, Antonyho dcera
barmanka Irena
sousedka Valoušková
Zachar, Antonyho tchán
Zacharová, Antonyho tchyně
Mirek, šéf skladníků
JUDr. Osten
prostitutka Květa
strýc
skladník Pako
skladník Bandaska
skladník Drezína
vrátný Kobes
on sám, herec
ředitelka mateřské školky
kamarádíček
paní na hlídání
pokladní v sámošce
Irenin soused, cizinec
sousedova manželka
Italka
muž s kravatou
kudrnáč/člen výjezdové hlídky VB
kolotočář/člen výjezdové hlídky VB
předseda poroty
prodavačka v drogerii
prodavačka v drogerii
Němec
Němec
vrchní v restauraci
železničář
porotkyně
náborový pracovník
vrátná v ubytovně
diskžokej
klavírista
skladník s fretkou
asistent
dívka
dívka
lyžařka
lyžařka
svačinářka
spolubydlící v natáčkách
vekslák v baru
dirigent
hudebník
hudebník
hudebník
hudebník
hudebník
hlas ředitelky mateřské školky
Petr Slabý, Dalibor Fiksa, Magda Vodičková
Milan Kopecký, Miroslav Čvorsjuk
Ivan Břešťák, Ivo Černý, Ladislav Rada, František Struska
Vlasta Synkulová, Eva Kulhánková
Alice Ronovská, Květa Švábová, Jaroslav Řeřicha, Miroslav Jirsa
Zvonky štěstí, Když mě brali za vojáka, Sejdeme se u Rotta, Pozri, Múr našich lások, Zajíček v své jamce
Jiří Zmožek (Zvonky štěstí), Jaromír Nohavica (Když mě brali za vojáka), Jiří Kaleš (Sejdeme se u Rotta), Miro Žbirka (Pozri), Milan Dufek (Sejdeme se u Rotta), Miro Žbirka (Múr našich lások)
Zdeněk Rytíř (Zvonky štěstí), Milan Dufek (Sejdeme se u Rotta), Miro Žbirka (Pozri), Kamil Peteraj (Múr našich lások)
Karel Gott (Zvonky štěstí), Dara Rolins (Zvonky štěstí), Rangers (Sejdeme se u Rotta), Miro Žbirka (Pozri), Miro Žbirka (Múr našich lások), dětský sbor (Zajíček v své jamce)
Antonyho šance
Anthony’s Chance
film
feature
drama, psychological
Czechoslovakia
1986
1986
1 November 1986
long
76 min
Czech
Event: 15. koszalinské filmové setkání Mládež a film Koszalin
1987
Koszalin / Poland
Festival: 25. festival českých a slovenských filmů Bratislava
1987
Bratislava / Czechoslovakia
Rudolf Ráž
Festival: 25. festival českých a slovenských filmů Bratislava
1987
Bratislava / Czechoslovakia
Ota Kopřiva