What Happens at the End of Payment in Kind?

In an unusual, apolitical approach, director Jaromil Jires has fashioned a standard drama that features an older lawyer with failing health who goes to practice in the countryside. His series of odd court cases reveals more about the human condition than about law. In one of these litigations a wayward nephew has cheated his elderly aunt out of her savings. In court, the nephew insists the money was a gift, but his aunt explains she only gave him the money as a loan. Although the lawyer technically wins the case, everything of value seems lost in the meantime. His services are paid for in rabbits because the aunt has no currency, and in the end, the nephew cons his aunt into parting with her savings anyway. Other cases expose similar types of petty corruption.

Jaromil Jireš's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Miloš Kopecký (JUDr. Lukášek)'s journey. His series of odd court cases reveals more about the human condition than about law.

How Does Miloš Kopecký (JUDr. Lukášek)'s Story End?

• Miloš Kopecký: Miloš Kopecký's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Marie Brožová (babička Márová): Marie Brožová's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Jaroslav Satoranský (Joun): Jaroslav Satoranský's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of Payment in Kind Mean?

Payment in Kind's ending attempts to resolve the major plot threads, though some narrative elements involving Miloš Kopecký may feel rushed. Jaromil Jireš's final act has been both praised for its ambition and criticized for its execution.