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It's Better to Be Wealthy and Healthy Than Poor and Ill

Original title: Lepsie byt bohaty a zdravy ako chudobny a chory
  • 1992
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
143
YOUR RATING
It's Better to Be Wealthy and Healthy Than Poor and Ill (1992)
ComedyDrama

In post-cold war Bratislava, two female best friends go their own way, trying everything from soft porn and robbery to make money.In post-cold war Bratislava, two female best friends go their own way, trying everything from soft porn and robbery to make money.In post-cold war Bratislava, two female best friends go their own way, trying everything from soft porn and robbery to make money.

  • Director
    • Juraj Jakubisko
  • Writer
    • Juraj Jakubisko
  • Stars
    • Deana Horváthová
    • Dagmar Havlová
    • Juraj Kukura
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    143
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Juraj Jakubisko
    • Writer
      • Juraj Jakubisko
    • Stars
      • Deana Horváthová
      • Dagmar Havlová
      • Juraj Kukura
    • 1User review
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos4

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    Top cast15

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    Deana Horváthová
    Deana Horváthová
    • Nona
    Dagmar Havlová
    Dagmar Havlová
    • Ester
    • (as Dagmar Veskrnová)
    Juraj Kukura
    Juraj Kukura
    • Robert
    Lubomír Paulovic
    Lubomír Paulovic
    • Viliam
    Vilma Jamnická
    • Margita
    Stano Danciak
    • kpt. Klinec
    Pavel Nový
    Pavel Nový
    • Vekslák
    Hana Packertová
    • Komisárka
    Ján Barto
    Eva Mária Chalupová
    Zdenek Dusek
    Zdenek Dusek
    Milada Ondrasíková
    Milada Ondrasíková
    Jirí Pecha
    Jirí Pecha
    • Vendor
    Tomas Zilincik
    • Laco
    Olga Zöllnerová
    • Director
      • Juraj Jakubisko
    • Writer
      • Juraj Jakubisko
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    6.4143
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    Featured reviews

    10NateManD

    A Slovak Thelma & Louise with a touch of Fellini and Kusturica

    Jakubisko's "It's better to be Wealthy and Healthy, than Poor and Ill", is a cinematic joy from start to finish. Often it is described as being the Thelma & Louise of Eastern Europe. Sort of, but it's more of a slapstick tragicomedy with Surreal elements. The Story takes place in 1989, around the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia. Nona the main character is Slovak, and she befriends Ester who is Czech. Nona is pregnant and abandoned by her politician boyfriend, because he doesn't want a kid. The other man she sees comes around from time to time, but avoids commitment. Ester also has bad luck with her communist activist boyfriend. Immediately the two ladies hit it off and become roommates, but survival is tough in a post cold war country; so they resort to crime. Their next door neighbor is an old nun, who stops bye to check on them and sometimes even to party with them too. Nona and Ester have many misadventures and road trips. They get involved with stealing, prostitution, stripping or whatever means necessary to survive. Usually they trick men by stealing their wallets, and running off without ever having sex with them (so their not really prostitutes, but more of thieves) Things get better for them when they rob a truck driver, who sells people broken electronics from the black market. He has millions, which they take from him at gunpoint. From that point on their lives change both for the better and worse. Of course the film is funny, sad, surreal and all heart at the same time, as of most eastern European comedies. With colorful characters, dreamlike images and political satire, Jakubisko has been compared to Fellini and Emir Kusturica. So the film is kind of like Thelma & Louise, but more so for the oppressed, poor and struggling working class. This film is so much fun, and is the last film in Jakubisko's Trilogy of happiness. If you can find a copy, your guaranteed a unique movie experience. 10/10

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 11, 1992 (Czechoslovakia)
    • Country of origin
      • Czechoslovakia
    • Languages
      • Slovak
      • Czech
    • Also known as
      • It's Better to Be Healthy and Wealthy Than Poor and Ill
    • Production company
      • Mirofilm
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,915
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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