When the War Comes

Peter Švrček comes from a middle-class family, he just finished his studies, and he has a nice girlfriend. But Peter is worried. He’s concerned about the future of Slovakia and the arrival of immigrants. If there’s going to be a war, Peter wants to be prepared for it, so in his free time he leads a paramilitary group of dozens of men. In their weekend training sessions, they wear fake uniforms and use dummy weapons, but they take their mission very seriously indeed. The group gives talks at high schools and helps out at folkloric events. Without passing judgement, director Jan Gebert observes the group’s rise in popularity.

These men are playing war games, but they’re no longer little kids. The group even wants to enter politics to protect what belongs to them and to keep Slovakia for the Slovakians. And as long as Peter and his helpers don’t break any laws, the government won’t intervene. On the contrary, the authorities turn a blind eye to their activities, despite the fact that their far-right leanings and fascist ideals are veiled in a paper-thin layer of decency.