Hospital on the periphery (Nemocnice na kraji města)

Country and year: Czechoslovakia 1977 Genre: Drama, Czech film Cast: Miloš Kopecký, Ladislav Chudík, Eliška Balzerová, Jana Štěpánková, Josef Abrhám Description: Ah, those little suburban hospitals... Does anyone else remember Dr. Strosmajer and his line about the dove? It’s worth revisiting this cult series from years ago, from a world somewhat different from our own. And you should know that our southern neighbors and the entire Eastern Bloc went crazy over it in its day. Nearly half a billion people worldwide were mesmerized every week by the musical opening credits. And what’s it about? This 13-episode Czechoslovakian series doesn’t dazzle, as is often the case today, with incomprehensible names of diseases, complicated procedures, and pharmacopoeia; this isn’t a place for fast-paced action or blood spurting from wounds. One season and a short sequel 20 years later—that’s more than enough to tell the story of the lives, romantic conquests, intrigues, friendships, and professional work of several doctors and nurses in the orthopedic ward... Dr. Strosmajer is a memorable character—a laid-back older gentleman who’s been through a lot, portrayed by the outstanding actor Miloš Kopecký. This character overshadowed all his previous and subsequent roles, many of which were magnificent. It is worth noting that this charismatic actor struggled with bipolar disorder throughout his life, a condition that repeatedly put his career in jeopardy.