I Served the King of England

Jan Dítě is released from a Czech prison after serving nearly 15 years of his sentence. With only three months left before his release, he finds himself in a new environment, filled with both possibilities and the shadows of his past.

After his release, Jan settles in a small town near the Czechoslovakia-Germany border. Here, he begins to revive an abandoned house, reflecting on his aspirations and contemplating his desire to become a millionaire.

Jan starts his new journey as a frankfurter vendor at a bustling railroad station. Through this job, he begins to understand the significance of money and how it influences people's lives and interactions.

A young woman named Marcela arrives in Jan's vicinity, accompanied by an older professor. Although an attraction sparks between Jan and Marcela, their connection remains largely unfulfilled, leaving both characters yearning for something more.

In a local restaurant, Jan engages in brief affairs with various women, including an actress and a prostitute. This phase of his life is marked by a growing ambition to improve his status in society as he takes on more prestigious roles.

Jan secures a position at the Hotel Tichota, where he quickly forms a romantic relationship with a maid. His new role provides him with a taste of the high life, allowing him to navigate the social scene more freely.

When Jan finds himself working under the enigmatic Maître d', Skřivánek, he experiences an unexpected turn of events. He ends up serving the Emperor of Ethiopia during a ceremonial occasion, showcasing his adaptability and opportunistic nature.

As the political climate shifts with the annexation of Czechoslovakia, Jan becomes enamored with Liza, a fervent supporter of Adolf Hitler. Their relationship takes a serious turn when Liza demands proof of Jan's Aryan lineage as a condition for marriage.

Jan is ultimately dismissed from his job at the hotel due to his compliance with the Nazis, while his colleagues express their resentment through passive resistance. A confrontation with Skřivánek leads to a symbolic act of defiance, leaving Jan isolated and disillusioned.

During World War II, Jan takes a job at an institute repurposed from Hotel Tichota, where he witnesses drastic changes due to the war. The women initially working there are replaced by injured soldiers, marking a significant shift in the atmosphere of the establishment.

As the war reaches its climax, a tragic attack leads to an evacuation at the institute. In a heartbreaking twist, Liza perishes when the building collapses, leaving behind a box of invaluable stamps that Jan clutches as a connection to her.

Despite the tragedy, Jan utilizes the stamps he recovered from Liza to rebuild his life and become a wealthy hotelier in the same location. This twist of fate illustrates his resilience and the harsh realities of post-war life.

After the Communist takeover in 1948, Jan's newfound wealth becomes his downfall as he inadvertently reveals it to the authorities. This leads to a harsh sentence of 15 years in prison, highlighting the dangers of his previous ambitions.

Inside the prison, Jan encounters familiar faces from his past, including Brandejs and other former elites. Despite his attempts to reconnect, he realizes that his status has diminished and he is now an outcast among them.

As Marcela and the professor leave the area, Jan finally finishes restoring his home. In a symbolic gesture, he releases the stamps into the winds, signifying the closure of a tumultuous chapter in his life and a newfound sense of freedom.