The Elementary School

In 1945–46, Eda Souček attends a boys' elementary school where the class shows a remarkable lack of discipline. The chaotic atmosphere signals the difficulties of post-war reconstruction and sets the stage for a drastic new approach to teaching. The events take place in a Prague suburb, with Michle as the filming location.

The undisciplined class drives their teacher, Maxová, to a mental breakdown during one of her lessons. Administrators realize that conventional methods won't restore order. This incident exposes the severity of the classroom crisis.

Igor Hnízdo, a man described as a great war hero, is hired as the new teacher to take charge of the unruly class. His authoritarian presence immediately commands attention from students and townspeople alike. His arrival promises a break from the previous chaos.

Hnízdo implements corporal punishment, claiming that the school has received an exception from the Ministry of Education. He presents his method as a necessary tool to restore discipline. The pupils are subjected to palm strikes with a flexible switch when they misbehave.

Although strict, the boys are drawn to Hnízdo because of his battlefront stories, uniform, and air of authority. Eda sees him as the opposite of his own cowardly father. The class's fascination with the war hero complicates the moral landscape of their teacher.

Hnízdo's reputation becomes controversial. He is portrayed as a womanizer and rumored to favor high school girls. His war hero status is questioned, and there are doubts about what he actually did in the service. The conflicting stories create a rift between admiration and suspicion in the community.

There is an unconfirmed rumor that Hnízdo's role during the war involved guarding a herd of goats. The gossip is spread by some, while others defend him as a war hero. The boys refuse to accept the rumor and even confront those spreading it.

Hnízdo is accused of having a sexual relationship with 16-year-old twins who attend a nearby girls' school. The accusation threatens both his reputation and his place at the school. It marks a turning point, forcing him to leave.

The formerly unruly class defends Hnízdo and calls for his return. They stand up to those who want to remove him, showing a surprising loyalty. The campus becomes a stage for the defense of a figure whose true nature is debated.

The accusation is withdrawn, and Hnízdo is reinstated as their teacher. He states that the way the boys handled the situation proves their mutual trust. He also claims that physical punishments are no longer required, and he breaks his switch in half.

With his return, Hnízdo asserts a new dynamic based on trust rather than fear. The class accepts the altered approach as the path forward, though tensions about his past linger.

The scene closes on the symbolic act of breaking the switch, paired with the teacher's claim that trust replaces punishment. The boys’ loyalty persists, even as questions about heroism and truth remain in the air.