Return of the Prodigal Son

This movie begins with the arrival of Jan, a young engineer, being admitted to a mental hospital. Although he seems to have everything (a good job, a beautiful wife and a daughter) he has just tried committing suicide. Nobody can say why, least of all Jan. The movie follows him as he attempts to get his life back together. There is little plot per se, just a series of incidents that show his emotional ups and downs. It's an interesting movie but a hard one to get excited about. The movie has a very cool and detached approach that keeps the viewer at arm's length. Some of the scenes in the movie feel a little choppy. Many of the characters' emotions turn at the drop of a dime and the dialogue has an improvisational feel. A challenging but interesting film.

Side note for film buffs: Jan's wife's whiny lover is played by Jiri Menzel, the director of the great Closely Watched Trains and other classics.