Starring Zdenek Sverak and Andrej Chalimon Directed by Jan Sverak (Unrated) In Czech and Russian, with English subtitles Running time minutes Jack gives this film a rating of 8 out of 10

(March 14, 1997) -- A cynical confirmed bachelor is shocked to find himself a father -- of sorts -- in Kolya, the Czech nomination for best foreign language film at this year's Academy Awards.

Frantisek Louka (Zdenek Sverak) is a once-renowned cellist who has been reduced to playing funeral music at a Prague crematorium. He's also an aging playboy whose preferred lovers are usually married women -- at least that way they won't try to lure HIM into marriage.

In fact, Louka is so opposed to marriage, he won't even agree to help a friend by partaking in a temporary marriage-of-convenience, even though he'd be paid enough cash to buy a small car and pay his overdue rent.

Louka's friend is looking for someone to marry his niece, a Russian who needs Czech papers. He guarantees Louka there will be no ties, no obligations; just a signature in exchange for the much-needed money. But Louka says no, at least until he sees that the woman is young and beautiful. Then it seems less of a sacrifice.

So Louka agrees to the scheme, only to have it blow up in his face. His "bride" uses her newly acquired papers to emigrate to Germany to be with her real love. More to the point, she leaves behind her 6-year-old Russian son, Kolya, who becomes Louka's unexpected and unwanted responsibility.

Kolya, of course, is just the thing to wreck Louka's carefree bachelor style. Louka also knows nothing about caring for a child, and is one old dog who is not interested in learning that new trick.

But then Louka is shocked to find that he enjoys the kid -- and the sensation of being needed by somebody in his life. Could there be a latent father hidden within this middle-aged Don Juan?

Like most films from Eastern Europe, this variation of Bachelor Father, has a political subtext, for those informed or interested enough in seeing it. (If not, don't worry; "Kolya" will entice you on purely a personal level.) The film also plays with variations of language and lifestyle between the Russians and Czechs, much of which I suspect is lost in translation.

The film is set in 1989, just as the Czech Republic began to emerge from the grip of the Soviet Union. Kolya brings turmoil into Louka's life at about the same time as the Czechs' so-called Velvet Revolution brought turmoil to the streets of Prague.

Of course, both revolutions -- the political and the personal -- hold the potential of good things for Louka; if only he is able to accept change.

As Louka, Czech actor Zdenek Sverak offers the middle-age charm, gruff exterior and teddy-bear interior of a handsome Walter Matthau (or, perhaps, an Armin Mueller-Stahl). Sverak also wrote the screenplay.

The film, meanwhile, is a family affair. Kolya was directed by Sverak's son, Jan, who displays a stylish visual flair, as well as the patience and invention to mold a commendable performance from 6-year-old Andrej Chalimon, recruited to play the title character.