This charming comic-drama set in a small Czech town follows a quartet of string players that meets frequently to rehearse contemporary music. Composer and first violin Robert is something of a mama’s boy. Robert lives with the attractive but flighty cello player Simona. Sexy womanizer Tomáš, who also fronts a punk band, plays second violin and observes the ups and downs of Robert and Simona’s relationship, waiting for his chance. Rounding out the group is the extremely reserved history expert Funés, who refuses to go out with the opposite sex because he believes he will either be disappointed or disappointing.

Co-writer/director Miroslav Krobot slyly observes his characters with rueful melancholy and brilliant understatement. Like his compatriot directors Miloš Forman and Jiří Menzel he also displays a wise and humorous attitude towards sex: “This is a film about the search for happiness and the doubts and uncertainties that go with it.”