Black Peter (1964)

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The celebrated first feature by Milos Forman (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus, Loves Of A Blonde, Fireman's Ball), is a revelation, heralding his talent as a director and foreshadowing his cinematic genius.

Peter, a teenage malcontent, lands a job in a grocery store, which pleases his pompous father. But, the boy finds the work - which involves spying on customers to prevent shoplifting - distasteful and depressing. He seeks relief from his father and his job through his clumsy romance with a young girl. A delightful coming-of-age comedy, BLACK PETER finds its humor in the keenly observed details of youthful romance, teenage dissatisfaction, and the small moments of life.

Working in his native Czechoslovakia, Forman painted a vivid portrait of awkward adolescence, but he also captured a particular moment in his country's history when his generation - the Czech New Wave - found itself.