Three stories of different people, observed through the eyes of a cashier.
Family: There is a big purchase of a family with three children at the conveyor belt. While some of the children are running around and others are starting to fuss, the parents are trying to finalize the purchase and at the same time soothing the children. Granny: There is a modest purchase of a granny at the conveyor belt. She's trying to count her coins to pay. In her wallet there's a photo of her family. The cashier helps her count the coins. The granny is short one crown, and the entire queue is eager to help her find it. Lover: There are chocolates, flowers, and condoms in a protective box at the conveyor belt. The cashier is trying to free the condoms from the box, but it's not so easy. The buyer waits shyly, texting someone on his phone. But something goes wrong. After reading another message, the guy asks the cashier to return the already scanned purchase.
Director’s statement
Working part-time at the checkout in a hypermarket while studying, I am constantly fascinated by the opportunity to observe absolutely different people. I can't imagine another place that gathers such a variety of people from different social categories in one spot. People at the hypermarket checkout are literally a cross-section of the city, society.
In just a few minutes at the checkout, the cashier gets a glimpse into each life—what they eat, she sees photos of the shopper's loved ones in the wallet opening up for payment, she hears their conversations. I feel like mundane life is not sufficiently reflected in films, and I would like to show how in everyday fleeting contact between the cashier and the shoppers, compelling themes can unfold.
The film will be presented from the perspective of the cashier, and the movie montage will be based on close-ups, expressing the closeness of this fleeting contact.
Country of production
Czech Republic
Target audience
Young adults (18-25 age) and adults (26-44 age)
Animation technique
Cut-out animation
Production company
University of West Bohemia, Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and ArtEstimated budget
3 000 EUR
Funding secured
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Stage of the project
script development (existing treatment)
Looking for
Animator(s), co-producer, sound designer, musician