Gardener’s Year is inspired by a true conflict between a Czech gardener and the Russian owner of a château who attempted to gain possession of the gardener’s premises by any means necessary. Havelka penned the script for this story about the escalating conflict between the gardener and his new neighbour. The producers have said that they expect the audience of Havelka’s most critically successful film, Owners, to be the primary target of his latest oeuvre. The synopsis states that as the stakes in the conflict rise, “the gardener, however, does not intend to give up; he is determined to fight for his home. The police refuse to get involved, citing a lack of evidence, and so the local mayor tries to find a lawful way to assist the gardener. Meanwhile, investigative journalists do more harm than good. The days go by, the castle is ostentatiously renovated, investments in the village increase rapidly, and previously friendly neighbours with new interests start to avoid the gardener and reconsider their allegiances.”