An aura of emotional tyranny surrounds a poor cashier and the would-be lovers drawn to her innocent beauty in this adaptation of the modern novel by Czech writer Marie Majerova. The characters' psychology is framed by the inner workings of gleaming bistros, coded wardrobes, world-weary night-spots, and roomy flats cluttered with the detritus of private lives. Vavra's direction evokes a sophisticated romantic detachment close to that of Frank Borzage. The fluid and meticulous camera style and gorgeous photography in blacks and grays make this one of the best Czech films of the period.