Revelatory Inebriation and Westward Projections: Bolek Polívka’s Father Figures in Mid-2000s Czech Cinema

Abstract

In the mid-2000s, prominent Czech actor Bolek Polívka played palpably flawed father figures in the films Pupendo (2003) and Something Like Happiness (2005). Polívka’s patresfamilias iterate the tendencies of alcohol consumption and antiheroism common for portrayals of masculinity in Czech texts in these films, which reflect post-communist attitudes about current affairs and perspectives on the former regime. This paper applies theories pertaining to regional literature and national cinemas to explore Polívka’s peculiar roles as father figures responding to local social codes and notions about the West. The analysis assesses Polívka’s select patresfamilias against characters from his prior films as well as familiar figures in the Czech cultural canon, e.g. Josef Švejk. The discussion also proposes an understanding of alcohol use in Pupendo and Something Like Happiness as a narrative device that brings about instances of intimacy and revelation. Polívka’s acting engenders moments of truth that clarify his characters’ stances and align them with narrative developments of both films. In accordance with concentrating on the actor, this paper accounts for the complexity that Polívka’s off-screen persona and local success add to his characters.