The heart of a hooligan

Adolescence between bans and beats

The Slovácko countryside, the oppressive atmosphere of the Normalisation era, and a boy searching for a more joyful side of the world through independent culture and his own little “on the road” adventures. First loves are eternally clumsy, and the days flash by like images from a carousel: a harsh father, an apprenticeship, a factory, a river and a large gravel pit with crystal-clear water. And above all, the longed-for escapes to official and secret concerts, where a cup of beer, a battered guitar and a sleeping bag are all it takes for happiness—until the truncheons of the Public Security officers come into play.
Větříšek's narrative has the hallmarks of a good documentary. It is the “true story” of a generation for whom music was the allure of freedom, courage and hope. At the same time, it is a raw yet moving book about growing up, about tenderness and the hardships of youth—and above all, about how to live life to the fullest even in unappealing times.