Prague in the 1870s. Work in Smolík's sulphur factory is hard and dangerous to health. The poorly paid workers resemble torches because their clothes are soaked with poisonous phosphorus. Young Josef Rezler also works in the sulphur factory and uses his earnings to feed his mother and little sisters. He throws his perpetually drunken father out of the house. The older worker Brož forces Josef to learn to read and write. A cholera epidemic breaks out in Prague and Josef is the only one of his family to survive the disease...
as worker Josef Rezler
as Anci Rozsypalová
as factory Smolík
as Otto - Smolík's son
as Father Novotný
as editor Kolár
as singer Hejkal
as accordionist Shrovetide
as singer Kulda
as foreman Ladislav Zápotocký
as foreman Josef Pecka
as editor Norbert Zoula
as editor Fait
as worker Smejkál
as worker Broz
as Worker Hübner
as delnice Pesková
as worker Kovár
as drunk Rezler
as Rezlerová - Josef's mother
as Young worker
as Younger worker
as Paulína
as Police director
as Rozslapil
as Praseckár
as factor Purchased
as Pihovatý
as Secret agent
as The warden in the match shop
as Warden in prison
as Strak's secret council
as Angry gentleman
as Komorná
as Frantík
as worker
as worker
as Singer in cabaret
as Hostinský
as Innkeeper
as waiter at Rozslapil
as Pianist in cabaret
as Singer in cabaret
as Manufacturer
as Prostitute
as Mána
as Broz's daughter
as Laborer
as Rozálka
as worker from Waldes
as worker
as Kamelot
as dude in Vienna
as Mladík
