Set in Prague during the years leading up to World War II, this family saga tells the story of a cobbler named Vincenc Bursik (Vladimir Mensik), who uproots his clan from the country to the city, only to suffer the loss of his wife and the failure of his shoe business within months. When his daughter moves away to go live with a wealthy businessman as his mistress, Vincenc is left to take care of his two sons, who spend their days in a secret garden vying for the affections of a teenage girl.

Vladimír Menšík
as Vincenc Bursík

Lukáš Vaculík
as Kajda Bursík

Jan Hrušínský
as Pepan Bursík

Zlata Adamovská
as Věra Bursíková

Tereza Pokorná-Herzová
as Pája

Rudolf Hrušínský
as lékárník

David Vlček
as Pepan Bursík (dítě)

Michal Dlouhý
as Kajda Bursík (dítě)

Dana Balounová
as Běta Lemplová

Eva Jakoubková
as Fanka Bursíková