Evocative and endearing, this socially relevant saga revolves around Josef Tkaloun is a teacher at a high school in Prague who cannot control his anger when his pupils misbehave in his poetry class. He quits his job and despite his wife urging him to retire, becomes a cycle courier.
After an inevitable accident, he still refuses to stay at home and takes a job in the local supermarket. He works behind a counter, recycling glass beer bottles. He begins to flirt with the customers and becomes matchmaker for an old friend and also for a co-worker. When his own flirtations (and sexually charged dreams) almost get him into trouble with his wife, so he resolves to reignite the passion in his marriage by celebrating his wedding anniversary with a hot air balloon ride. The scary balloon ride, ending in a crash, revitalizes the relationship.