Serving as a very convincing example of the creative capabilities of the ascendant Czechoslovak New Wave generation, Perličky na dně (Pearls at the Bottom, 1965) is based on the stories of author Bohumil Hrabal. This anthology of five separate tales sees five upcoming star directors of the New Wave contributing their talents: Jiří Menzel, Jan Němec, Evald Schorm, Věra Chytilová and Jaromil Jireš. (The story Fádní odpoledne [Dull Afternoon] was filmed separately as a short film by director Ivan Passer. Similarly, the half-hour Hrabal étude Sběrné surovosti [Cruelties of Life], was filmed by Juraj Herz).