You probably know the scene. A red-haired woman in a billiard room pulls a hair tie out, her dress hitches up, and she uses her underwear to tie back her hair. It’s one of those internet-famous moments that lived on long after the movie itself faded from the headlines. But honestly, the men in hope cast brought a lot more to the table than just one viral scene.
Directed by Jiří Vejdělek, this 2011 Czech sex comedy, originally titled Muži v naději, became a massive regional success. It wasn't just about the shock value. It was about a very specific, slightly cynical, and very European view of marriage. The story follows Rudolf, a man in his sixties who is convinced that a little bit of infidelity is the secret sauce to a long-lasting, happy marriage. He tries to "help" his son-in-law, Ondřej, who is basically the world's most boring, dutiful husband.
The Faces of Men in Hope
The chemistry between the leads is what actually made the movie work. It wasn't just a bunch of actors reading lines about cheating; it felt like a weird, dysfunctional family you actually knew.
Bolek Polívka as Rudolf
Polívka is a legend in Czech cinema. In this film, he plays the bon vivant father-in-law with a mischievous glint in his eye. He’s the one pushing the "infidelity as a virtue" philosophy. Polívka’s performance is great because he makes a character who should be a villain—a serial cheater—actually seem charming and almost wise in a twisted way.
Jiří Macháček as Ondřej
Macháček is the perfect foil. He starts the movie as a timid, repressed guy whose marriage to Alice is basically flatlining. You’ve seen this trope before, but Macháček plays the "transformation" into a confident, slightly more devious man with a lot of physical comedy that feels genuine.
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Vica Kerekes as Šarlota
This was the breakout role. Kerekes, a Slovak actress, became an overnight sensation because of the billiard room scene, but her role as the "other woman" who disrupts the family dynamic is actually what drives the second half of the film. She brings a specific energy that balances out the more grounded domestic drama happening with the other characters.
Petra Hřebíčková as Alice
Playing the "ignored wife" is often a thankless job in these comedies, but Hřebíčková gives Alice a lot of depth. She isn't just a victim of the men's schemes. As the movie progresses, the "men in hope cast" dynamic shifts, and you realize the women in the story might actually be the ones in control of the narrative.
Why This Specific Cast Worked
The movie had a budget of around 20 million CZK and ended up making over 95 million CZK at the box office. That’s huge for the Czech Republic. Why? Because the casting felt intentional. You had Simona Stašová playing Marta (Rudolf's wife), who represents the long-suffering but perhaps more-knowing-than-she-lets-on spouse.
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It’s a movie about the lies we tell to keep things comfortable.
- Rudolf (Polívka): The catalyst for chaos.
- Ondřej (Macháček): The "proper" man who falls for the trap.
- Šarlota (Kerekes): The spark that ignites the mid-life crisis.
Most sex comedies from the early 2010s haven't aged particularly well. The humor can feel a bit "dad-joke" adjacent. However, the performances of the men in hope cast keep it from being just another raunchy flick. There is a sense of melancholy under the jokes. Rudolf’s belief that women need to fight for their men to stay interested is a pretty dark worldview, and Polívka plays it with just enough sadness that you almost feel bad for him.
Breaking Down the "Moral" of the Story
The film doesn't exactly preach. It’s more of a "look at these idiots" kind of vibe. By the time you get to the third act, the roles start to flip. The actors do a solid job of showing the exhaustion that comes with maintaining a double life.
One of the more interesting casting choices was having Václav Jílek and Berenika Kohoutová play the younger versions of Rudolf and Marta in flashbacks. These scenes are vital because they show that Rudolf’s "philosophy" wasn't something he just picked up; it was a response to his own youth. It adds a layer of history to the characters that you don't always get in this genre.
Actionable Insights for Fans of the Film
If you're revisiting this movie or looking into the work of the men in hope cast for the first time, here is how to dive deeper:
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- Watch the "Vejdělek Trilogy": Jiří Vejdělek has a knack for these types of relationship dramedies. If you liked Men in Hope, check out Women in Temptation (2010) and Tender Waves (2014). You’ll see some recurring faces and similar themes of messy love.
- Follow the Leads: Jiří Macháček isn't just an actor; he’s the frontman of the band Mig 21. If you want to see a completely different side of him, look up their music videos.
- Context Matters: Understand that Czech humor often leans into the "tragicomic." The infidelity in the film isn't necessarily being "celebrated" as much as it is being used to highlight the absurdity of human relationships.
- Look for the Uncut Version: Depending on where you stream it, some versions of the film are edited for "content." To get the full experience of the performances (and the cinematography by Martin Šácha), try to find the original 115-minute Czech release.
The legacy of the film remains tied to that one scene, but the ensemble work of the men in hope cast is why people in Central Europe still talk about it. It’s a snapshot of a very specific era of filmmaking—bold, slightly problematic, and surprisingly human.
To fully appreciate the performances, look for the film on European streaming platforms or specialized world cinema retailers like Czech Movie, which often carry the Blu-ray with English subtitles. Understanding the nuances of the dialogue—especially Macháček’s deadpan delivery—requires a decent translation to really "get" the humor.