Pane, Vy jste vdova (1970, Czechoslovakia)

A fantasy film about an imaginary monarchy. When the king's arm is accidentally chopped off by a general in a formal parade, the king decides to do away with the army. The senior soldiers aren't keen on that idea, and rig up a fake "accident" involving a failure of a lift, but an astrologer called Stuart Hample foresees the accident and the plot is exposed.

The soldiers have Hample killed -- evidently he didn't foresee that -- but still wish to carry out the assassination. They have a female multiple murdress called Mrs Stubb in detention is a mental hospital -- interesting that this practice could be openly admitted -- and as she is extremely ugly, they offer her a body transplant to make her beautiful is she will carry out the murder.

She agrees, and the plan is to exchange Hample's brain and hers -- I don't see how that fits the plan as described, though. Meanwhile a beautiful actress called Evelyn Keletti is also having a double created in the same hospital, in case of any problem during some dangerous stunts. Due to someone's carelessness, the brains get mixed up. The actual work takes place in a big injection-moulding machine.

Well, the operation is a success, but Mrs Stubb now has a beautiful body, with Stuart Hample's brain. "Why do you keep calling me Mrs Stubb? And where did I get these breasts?"

This role is well played by Iva Janzurová as Stuart Hample in the body of Evelyn Keletti, with the male body language thoughtfully done. As s/he keeps insisting she is a man, the man looking after her explains (mistakenly) that she is Mrs Stubb and that her husband has just died -- she is a widow, justifying the odd title of the film, "Sir you are a widow." The man explains to the timid Hample that s/he now has to kill the king.

Hample takes some time to get used to his new female body; luckily an old friend is willing to help him.

The authorities, continuing in their manipulative ways, have released an old boyfriend of Mrs Stubb from jail, for a night's intimacy. As the Communist state provided everything, they even provided pyjamas for the man at the place where Hample was staying. Hample is having none of that and manages to throw him out of the window.

Hample has to go and discuss plans with a woman who was evidently a close friend of the actress whom Hample now resembles; the woman is in a bath and comes to the door wearing just a towel; she kisses Hample on the cheek, which he finds both disconcerting and strangely pleasurable.

Eventually the authorities realise their mistake, and another brain transfer operation takes place; poor Hample is now in another man's body and has to re-introduce himself to his friend. The loud-mouthed and coarse Mrs Stubb is now in the body of the beautiful actress, and her gross behaviour alarms people in the theatrical world who knew the actress.

Communist-produced comedies were usually heavy-handed and awkward, and this production suffers a little from the problem; but it is one of the better ones, and certainly worth watching. A version of the dvd with English subtitles is available.

The English title is Sir, You Are a Widow.

HF April 2009

This Page: Pane, Vy jste vdova Return to Alphabetical Index Page Return to Home Page

Hazel Freeman's International Transgender Film Guide is maintained by

Jenni Olson

and hosted at

Visitors from the US and Canada can help support this site by shopping for LGBT DVDs using this WolfeVideo.com affiliate link. The commission we earn from your purchases will directly support the continued existence of this website. Thank you!