In the industrial town of Ostrava, labourers Karel, Vinco, Tomas and Milan get laid off from their jobs. They could wallow in despair or stew in anger, but instead they put on brave faces and try to start their own business. The ups and downs of striking out as independent entrepreneurs start to grate on their friendship, as do their personal trials and tribulations. Karel has a sick wife and three daughters relying on him; womanizer Vinco is trying his best to remain faithful; Tomas can′t keep up with his demanding wife; and Milan has a teenaged son heading for trouble. Martin Šulík′s ensemble comedy takes a step away from the mysticism and lyricism of The Garden to address issues of unemployment and the wage gap-something that was rare before the fall of communism, and often ignored in cinema. The four friends learn self-reliance and maintain their defiant optimism, much like the out-of-work Sheffield steelworkers in The Full Monty, which sets the tone for this less high-concept story, which unfolds against the backdrop of a gray, decaying blue-collar town.