Beauty in Trouble

Czech director Jan Hrebejk's moody BEAUTY IN TROUBLE is set in the period following the devastating Prague flood of 2002. It features popular actress Ana Geislerová as a young working-class mother struggling to make a better life for herself and her kids. Marcela and her husband Jarda have lost everything in the high waters, and he's taken to stealing cars to make ends meet. Even though she's still attracted to Jarda, Marcela can't stand the strain of living with him and his religious mother, and she takes her two children to live with her own mother. Butmom lives with a creepy, control-freak companion, so their situation is not greatly improved. When Marcela's path crosses that of an urbane, much older benefactor, she's tempted to leave her miserable life behind and start over with him in Italy. Marcela's indecision is underscored by director Hrebejk's juxtaposition of the gritty with the elegant quarters of Prague, plus lush photography of verdant Tuscany. – B.B.