February 1948. The struggle of decisive social forces for the heart of Europe.

Set in a South Bohemian village, this faithful film version of Smetana’s opera follows farmer Krušina’s plan to marry his daughter Mařenka to wealthy Vašek. Mařenka loves Jeník, a stranger. Through matchmaking schemer Kecal’s plots and revealed identities, true love triumphs in a festive village wedding.

The shopkeeper František Diviš offers cheap goods at the fairs, while the co-owner of the traveling variety show Bohouš Vosáhlo offers unpretentious folk entertainment. They therefore meet very often. Neither of them earns a comfortable living from their work, but they do not allow themselves to worry unnecessarily. However, this changes when a little boy enters their lives. Pepík is an orphan, there is no one to take care of him, and both fairground vendors cannot resist the plea in the children's eyes...

Ríša, a student of law, neglects his studies in favour of parties and pranks. His angry father refuses to continue helping him out of his debts. Ríša, however, is not entirely beyond hope. He decides to go and stay for a while with his uncle, a priest, who lives in Moravia, in order to prepare for his exams. He meets Helenka, the timid daughter of the local gamekeeper, at a village ball and is enchanted by her. The days pass and their idyllic relationship begins to tire Ríša. He begins to tell Helenka about his former debauched life the about the broken hearts of beautiful women. Helenka is hurt and refuses to see Ríša anymore. His uncle, the priest, is incensed at his behaviour and orders his nephew out of the house. Ríša tries desperately to find Helenka so he can make it up to her.

A ballad drama set in a rural setting, set in a foothill area, where farmers struggle with harsh natural conditions and their own inner hardness. The biggest obstacle, however, is the eccentric mill owner, who deliberately blocks the water supply. The reclusive man is unable to cope with disappointment in love.

Poor saleswoman Helena accepts a theater ticket from a stranger who has left over the ticket after a disagreement with his fiancée Eva. The stranger is millionaire Jára Nerad, and Helena pretends to be rich in front of him. The next day, they meet by chance in the store where Helena works, and the truth comes out. However, Jára doesn't mind, and the two young people start dating...

Country man Josef Bezoušek has gone to Prague for an extended visit to his lawyer son's family. His son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters have welcomed him with open arms, so the grandfather quickly gets used to them and really likes the metropolis. He enjoys walks and city attractions, and in the process he inadvertently gets involved in the story of his son's sister-in-law's forbidden love. She has lost her mind for a poor young man, her father does not want her to know him and imprisons the girl at home. The scoundrel Bezoušek inadvertently finds himself right in the center of the affair - and trouble is already coming his way. He himself could have endured it, but before leaving Prague he wants to settle the whole matter to the benefit of the unfortunate lovers...