Happy End (1967)

A dark comedy about a murder and its consequences presented in a backwards manner, where death is actually a rebirth. The film starts with an "execution" of the main protagonist and goes ... See full summary »

Director:

Oldrich Lipský

Writers:

Oldrich Lipský (screenplay), Oldrich Lipský (story),

Stars:

Vladimír Mensík, Jaroslava Obermaierová, Josef Abrhám

Cast

Credited cast:
Vladimír Mensík	...	Butcher Bedrich Frydrych
Jaroslava Obermaierová	...	Julie
Josef Abrhám	...	Ptacek
Bohus Záhorský	...	Tchán
Stella Zázvorková	...	Tchyné
Jaroslav Stercl	...	Strázník
Helena Ruzicková	...	Cernovláska
Josef Hlinomaz	...	Komisar
Martin Ruzek	...	Zalobce
Jirí Steimar
Bedrich Prokos	...	Knéz
Mirko Musil	...	Dozorce
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lena Birková	...	Zajícová
Ilona Bradácová	...	Svagrová
Lubomír Bryg	...	Pokládnik

Storyline

A dark comedy about a murder and its consequences presented in a backwards manner, where death is actually a rebirth. The film starts with an "execution" of the main protagonist and goes back to explore his previous actions and motivations.

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Plot Keywords:

backwards | dark comedy | murder | guillotine | severed arm | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Czech

Release Date:

10 June 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Onnellinen loppu

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmové studio Barrandov

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Just before the wedding scene, Bedrich and Julia wake up with the former wearing a white shirt and black pants while Julia is topless. This is way different compared to what they wore the day 'after' - Bedrich and Julia are clad in their night clothes. There is also no indication of any days passing between that and the honeymoon.

User Reviews

Think different!

This film will really make you think different.

The story is about a husband who kills his wife, but it's not important.

The great idea is something else: the WHOLE film was shot backwards. Even the dialogues are spoken backwards. (I guess it was quite hard, because the actors had to speak backwards and then they had to dub themselves. Sounds a bit complicated, doesn't it? =) So the film starts with the execution of the main character and it ends when he is born.

This will turn your brain upside down! =)