English Title: Courage for Every Day
Ceskoslovenský Státní Film
Starring: Jan Kacer, Olga Scheinpflugová, Václav Trégl
Directed by: Evald Schorm

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Jarda Lukas (Jan Kacer) is an engineer in communist Prague who is rebelling against the world around him, making him a stranger to his girlfriend Vera (Jana Brejchová).

Featured Feline: Vera lives in an apartment with a landlady named Bytná (Olga Scheinpflugová) who owns two cats, Muffie and Micinka. Muffie is only ever mentioned. One morning Bytná suspects Vera of having a man in her room and comes to the door as Jarda hides in the bathroom. Micinka, a white cat with black markings, enters the apartment as Vera and Bytná are talking.

Kitty Carnage Warning!  Jarda opens the door to the bathroom more and we see Micinka is inside with him. Jarda then kicks Micinka away roughly. Bytná leaves, going after the poor cat.

Downstairs Bytná is holding Micinka and crying that Mici (as she calls her) has diahrrea. Bytná is with her brother, Eduard (Václav Trégl) who hates the cats and keeps suggesting they kill and cook them. Bytná is convinced that Eduard has somehow poisoned Micinka.

Later in the film we see Eduard luring Micinka into a cage using some food on a string. Bytná catches him in time to stop him from harming the cat.

Kitty Carnage Warning!  Still later Vera comes home to find Eduard on the floor in the hallway and Bytná desperately trying to get him up. Bytná explains to Vera that Eduard has hurt himself trying to kill Micinka with a broom. The broom and Micinka are seen lying in the hallway behind them. Micinka is lifting her head but appears to be injured. Bytná is torn between crying for her cat and crying for Eduard. It is implied that both Micinka and Eduard may not survive.

Final Mewsings: Now that’s what we call instant karma.

Relevant Links:

To discuss this film and other cats in movies and on television, join us on
Facebook and Twitter.