School Is the Foundation of Life

Seventh form pupils at a grammar school in Přívlaky are preparing for a sports competition. Krhounek, the class sneak, hands the pupils’ own magazine to their teacher. Most of the teachers want whoever wrote it punished severely. When the author does not come forward, the whole class is banned from the competition. Benetka, the ablest pupil, criticises the school sharply in a homework essay. The strict Czech teacher becomes convinced Benetka is behind the magazine. He denies it, but his expulsion is proposed anyway over the views in his essay. In the end Boukal, the real author, comes forward and owns up; the class competes and wins thanks to Benetka. At the same time the teachers vote to expel him. Martin Frič’s ninety two minute Czechoslovak film was completed in 1938.