Tiger Theory

Jan realizes that Olga's father ended his life in the same way his own life has been steered. The moment casts a shadow over the marriage and signals the start of a personal reckoning. He confronts the possibility that power operates through everyday decisions as well as overt manipulation.

To test his freedom, Jan pretends to suffer from Alzheimer's and is admitted to a psychiatric hospital run by a friend. Inside, he discovers he is granted unusual latitude, an uneasy respite from the controlling home life. The act becomes the first step toward reclaiming autonomy.

In the guarded space of the hospital, Jan sees how much of his life has been guided by others’ choices. He weighs what he wants against what his family has scripted for him. The hospital becomes a crucible where he tests the depth of his own desires.

Throughout the hospital stay, only Jakub and Erik know the ruse behind Jan’s illness. They become Jan’s quiet lifelines, meeting him on weekends and sharing a covert bond. This secret arrangement strains the family’s already fragile balance.

Olga and her mother push to mold Erik’s life in the same way they shaped Jan’s, maintaining a grip over decisions and freedoms. The pressure seeps into every corner of the household, increasing suspicion and tension. Erik tolerates it at first, then begins to resist.

Erik and Jakub begin secretly meeting Jan on weekends, turning the hospital visits into lifelines of connection. These treks remind Jan of the relationships that once defined him and hint at a future where he can choose for himself. The family’s suspicion climbs toward a reckoning.

Olinka installs an app on Erik’s phone that shares his coordinates with her, turning trust into surveillance. Erik’s private space is invaded, and the couple’s bond is tested. The move exposes the costs of trying to command another person’s life.

The hidden truth comes to light as Jan confesses forty years of manipulation. Erik reacts with anger and leaves, while Olinka begins to understand the harm caused by scripting someone else’s life. Jan makes the difficult decision to return home, seeking a more honest path.

Jan finally divorces Olga and moves out, claiming his own space and autonomy. Olinka provides him with a houseboat that once belonged to Olga’s father, giving him a secure place to live. The act marks a hopeful shift in the family’s dynamics, and Olinka begins to reassess the harms of control as she notices Pepík and Alena’s happiness.

With Jan on his own terms, Erik starts to see a future where his life isn’t dictated by others’ expectations. He contemplates a life shaped by his own choices and consent. The family begins to reconfigure around new boundaries.

Olga delivers a pointed lecture claiming divorced men cannot be happy, while divorced women can still have life. The irony of appearance versus reality is laid bare as the family reconsiders what freedom means. The moment exposes the double standard at the heart of control.

The film closes with a tender tableau in which Jan, now free, shares time with Erik and Olinka. He raises a toast to his father-in-law, acknowledging the path toward autonomy and chosen family. It emphasizes that true happiness comes from living on one’s own terms and nurturing meaningful relationships.