The story's farcical structure belies its insight. Gedeon cleverly plays against expectations (ours and the characters') with surreal and strong imagery that combines perspective and dreams along with a haunting, repetitive piano score. Frantisek's doctor has told him that "it no longer makes sense to avoid life," and his tentative forays into the big bad world are both funny and profoundly telling. The actors get the tone exactly right, especially Liska, who somehow makes Frantisek both goofy and charming at the same time. Vilhelmova is also excellent as the thoughtful woman caught in this love, er, pentagon.