Vladimír Michálek chose an unconventional adaptation of Franz Kafka's novel for his feature debut. Artistically reminiscent of the classic films of Karel Zeman, the director reinterpreted this dark story of a man vainly seeking a place in a rigidly ordered society by changing the desperate conclusion into a happy end. The film provided Czech comedian Jirí Lábus with a new kind of role: that of the despotic uncle of a main hero Karel Rossman (Martin Dejdar).

Martin Dejdar
as Karel Rossman

Jiří Lábus
as Strýc Jacob

Jarka Rytychová
as Klára

Kateřina Kozáková-Bílková
as Tereza

Jiří Schmitzer
as Topič

Oldřich Kaiser
as Delamarche

Pavel Landovský
as Robinson

Libuse Tomanová
as Brunelda

Tomáš Vorel
as Mac

Pavel Nový
as Green