EN: Drahoš Lupko je vysoký mladý muž, blondiak s modrými očami, čerstvý tridsiatnik, ktorý vzbudzuje nefalšovaný rešpekt pred veľkým športovcom. Na základnej škole zažil šikanu a pravdepodobne to bola aj hlavná motivácia, prečo sa začal zaujímať o bojové umenia. Zamiloval sa, kvôli žene bol ochotný urobiť niekoľko zlých rozhodnutí, na základe ktorých sa dostal do najstráženejšej väznice v Leopoldove. Pred Novembrom 89 bolo jeho životným krédom: “Keď neokrádaš iných, okrádaš svoju rodinu.”

Karin Lupková is physically as unique as her husband. Her tall, slim figure and the face of a fashion model make her appearance irresistible, even iconic. Under different set of circumstances, she and her husband Drahoš could have been the heroes of Socialism, proudly representing the regime on posters during May 1st rallies. But when her ambitiousness gets out of control, life gets complicated not only for her, but others as well.

JUDr. Čierny is a Catholic dissident who gets catapulted by the November 1989 events from his prison cell straight to the seat of the Interior Minister. Immediately afterwards, he is to command the SWAT team crackdown against his rebellious former inmates, among them also a prisoner who used to help him on the inside. His multi-layered character evaluates conditions and circumstances only on the merit of what suits the Church. He is loyal to Vatican and represents its requirements. In many aspects, he embodies the clero-fascist spirit that has settled in the country even prior to WWII. He has no friends, and the only authority he accepts only God and the related Holy Church.

Miriam Kelemenová hates the regime, and the regime does its best to give her the reason. She was allowed to graduate in medicine only with difficulties, and now lives in fear of losing even the little she was allowed to keep from her family’s fortunes. She is constantly reminded of her loss by the faded rectangular shape on her living-room wall left in the place where the Man In A Hat painting by her grandfather Josef Čapek used to hang. The Kelemens were forced to give the painting to a Communist collector named Bystrický in return for being able to keep living in her own family villa.

Richard Kelemen is a successful and famous National Theatre actor. However, his marriage is more-or-less run by his wife. A protégée reciter and actor frequently cast in TV and film roles, he savours his fame wherever he goes. Rather than seriously dealing with the regime and defining a resolute, opposing stance, he just likes to joke about it.

Marta Čierna has been left completely to her own devices after her husband Jozef was sentenced to eight years in prison. She takes her fate of life in freedom like a martyr, quietly enduring all the hardship the Secret State Police challenges her with. The regime is incredibly inventive in humiliating enemies of state. Police agents do not hesitate to enter her flat at night without warrant or notice, break in the bedroom door, turn on the light and start searching through everything without so much as a word. She is being subjected to tougher conditions than Jozef in prison. Despite having a PhD. in psychology, she washes the dishes in a fast food joint at the outskirts. Her neighbours avoid speaking to her when they meet her in the hallway. The life she lives is not about the dissent with the regime whispered in saloons. Marta is experiencing genuine hardship of being a dissident.

Gujda, a.k.a. The Wolf, is the single most dangerous criminal incarcerated in the Leopoldov Prison. He was convinced of double homicide, while being charged with two more. He has escaped the death sentence just by pure luck, and he acts accordingly. Always living on the edge, there is nothing that is sacred to him. Fear is his greatest ally. He is unpredictable and impulsive. He has bribed the guards and can freely deal with alcohol, drugs and other goods. He is a madman who needs to prove to himself he is the uncrowned king of that insane place where only the most brutal and most treacherous one s will survive. He is the main character and the driving force behind the prison riot. Without any logic whatsoever, he sets fire to half of the prison fortress, because his revolution is based on bloodthirstiness and senseless destruction.

Žiga is a gypsy with the power of a bull and eyes of a madman. A bad look is enough for him to draw a knife on his enemy in an attempt to stab him to death. He obediently fulfils the orders of his boss, Gujda. It is precisely because he is so influenced by Gujda’s manipulative character that he is unable to think for himself. Without his orders, Žiga would certainly get lost in the prison and blend in with the others. This way, by the side of his tyrant, he feels at least somewhat important. During the riot, he embodies the most worst case of primitive thinking and crude force. He revels in looking for opportunities when he can hit, or at least scream.

Rigo is clever enough to act as a racketeer and not be hustled by canteen manager Juráček during his secret deals. He is even skilled enough to make a bomb that could cause great damages during the riot. Rigo is the type of an arrogant wise guy who is doing time for numerous economic frauds, and can earn decent money for Gujda. He is his trusted man, accountant and middleman for transactions with money and goods. Rigo is reliable, because he can spot things in people that others are unable to notice. He is of Hungarian origin and enjoys a unique position within the prison hierarchy.

Lieutenant Imrich Hromžík meets his duties excellently. He lives a happy family life and treats every inmate with due respect. He is strict, but just and fair. He does not bully anyone, and will not tolerate brutal treatment. When he finds out a guard is bullying inmates, he immediately takes appropriate action. He likes his job and is not interested in politics, he is the perfect man for his profession, which is also his destiny. Lieutenant Hromžík has garnered natural respect among all inmates. He will not be bribed. He is one of the few who are not involved in the deals guards make with prisoners. But when the institution’s reputation is at stake, he is able to turn a blind eye and do what needs to be done.

Young Guard arrives in in Leopoldov after his predecessor Férovka was fired, and life in the new environment is not easy for him. He was transferred to the most strictly guarded prison in the country from the East. His meek character turn him instantly into the laughing stock of the entire prison. He has no experience with brutal gibes, and due to his emotional attitude, he is often unable to adapt to the treacherous practices all around him. He has a kind heart, but that is not the right kind of outfit for thick, cold and harsh walls of Leopoldov Prison.

Bachor is serving sentence already for the third time. Minor offences against the regime granted him the status of an incorrigible recidivist who does not even hope any longer that he could one day be free again. He despises Communism and is willing to help JUDr. Čierny at all costs in his attempts to smuggle out secret messages, by means of which he communicates with the Christian dissent. He supports Lupko and utterly detests Gujda, but is unfortunate enough that he has to share a cell with him. Despite Lupko’s protection and attempts to get him into a different prison section, he and his friend Škrečok remain under the constant pressure of three psychopaths.

Juráček is a businessman who will sell anything he sets his eyes upon. The same goods will pass through his hands several times. Perhaps he has invented this system himself. The guard make profit on it, that is why they eagerly cooperate with him. First, Juráček sells alcohol or drugs from prison infirmary to the inmates, while the guards pretend not to notice anything. But before the prisoners can consume all the alcohol, Juráček instructs the guards to make a raid and confiscate the prohibited goods. Juráček consequently sells everything again for the same or even higher price, taking the goods back onto the prison market. Sometimes, he manages to sell the same bottle of vodka three times before a wretched inmate can finally drink it.

Director Bachleda is the communist inventory of Leopoldov Prison. He has blended in, or actually came to power from a group of thieving guards who turned Leopoldov into a private business. He is defending that which cannot be defended, for which he is equally disliked by both inmates and prison staff. Following the events of November ’89, he intends make sure he keeps a warm place for himself until he retires, but JUDr. Čierny quickly sees through his slimy character who turned life into hell for political prisoners during the Communism. It was through people like him that the regime was able to have its full revenge on the inmates.

At first, The Colonel lives for Communism, but never so much that he would stop from abusing and blackmailing his victims even after the fall of the Iron Curtain. He is the type of man capable of thriving in every regime. He has no problems with democracy, because corruption exists there as well, which is exactly what he is building his new life on. He dully utilises the second chance he gets in the free world and becomes an entrepreneur, despite the fact his almost non-existent morals. He turns the motto “money, money, money” fully into real life and lets himself be guided by it in all of his activities.