Silvery Wind
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1954Production year
1953—1954Premiere
30 November 1956Runtime
106 minDirector
Václav KrškaCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Stříbrný vítrCzech title
Stříbrný vítrEnglish title
Silvery WindSummary
Frána Šrámek's lyrical novel involving the first amorous confusions of a small-town teenager was shot by director Václav Krška in 1954 as a stylishly precise work that sidestepped the oppressive atmosphere of the time. The idealistic Jeník Ratkin is struggling with his narrow-minded father whom he sees as embodying the incomprehensible, hypocritical world of adults. Anička, who is "obsessed" but unable to break free from her dependence on conformist notions, plays the leading role in Jeník’s world of bittersweet experiences of first love... Krška cast his favourite actor, Eduard Cupák (who was then 22 years old) in the main role. He had appeared in the biopics Mladá léta (Early Days), about the nascent writer Alois Jirásek, and Z mého života (From My Life) about Antonín Dvořák. He also starred in another Šrámek opus – Měsíc nad řekou (Moon over the River) in which he played the sensitive student Vilík Roškot.
Synopsis
Second half of the 19th century. In a small town in South Bohemia, fifth-former Jan Ratkin is living through the confusions of first love together with his classmates. The perceptive boy has undisturbed dreams and ideas about life. He is finding it difficult to bear the narrow-mindedness and hypocrisy of the adults' world and often faces a lack of understanding and anger. He burns with pure love for "crazy" Anička but she only plays with him. He is taken by the mature beauty of Helena from the travelling theatrical company and he lets himself be seduced by the embittered widow Haurová. He spends holidays at home with his sick mother and a sullen father in an atmosphere of bitterness. The only moment of happiness is the visit of uncle Jiří who once was in love with his mother. After the end of holidays, Jan goes back to town. He is once again happy with Anička for a few short moments but she prefers a well-off pharmacist. The crude religion teacher catches sight of Jan and his friend Zach in the local brothel. Zach is expelled from school while Jan is saved by teacher Ramler. News about uncle Jiří's suicide give the boy great pain. But Jan's youth is medicine against all maladies. He finally meets with Anička and with a gift of a marguerite bids farewell to the foolishness of his young days. From that moment on, the silver breeze of youth and love begins to seem to him like an omen of a new, freer future.
Photos
Cast
Eduard Cupák
student Jan Ratkin
František Šlégr
soudní Rudolf Ratkin, Janův otec
Marie Brožová
Jarmila, Janova matka
Radovan Lukavský
strýc Jiří, Rudolfův bratr
Vladimír Ráž
profesor Ramler
Bedřich Vrbský
katecheta
Jana Rybářová
Anička Karasová
Josef Vinklář
student Franta Valenta
Oldřich Slavík
student Hugo Staněk
Jaroslav Wagner
Majer, Janův přítel
Ilja Racek
Vika, Janův přítel
Otto Lackovič
student Karel Zach
Miloš Kopecký
nadporučík Gerlič
Růžena Šlemrová
bytná
Viktor Očásek
manžel bytné
Stanislava Strobachová
vdova Haurová
Jiřina Šejbalová
herečka Helena
Nelly Gaierová
Staňkova matka
Zuzana Kočová
služka Eliška
Blanka Waleská
prostitutka Anděla
Ludmila Vendlová
prostitutka Lorča
Zdeňka Baldová
milostpaní
Eva Marie Kavanová
Ema, Majerova pražská sestřenice
Václava Austová
Kamilka, Helenina dcera
Ladislav Gzela
Helenin manžel
Hana Kavalírová
Ernestina
Valentin Knor
lékárník
Dagmar Kofroňová
Růžena Wildmanová
Raoul Schránil
důstojník Kerth
Jiřina Steimarová
pradlena
Václav Stýblo
student Berger
Jaroslav Toť
kadet
Zdeněk Borovec
důstojník
Jan Víšek
poručík Stefan
Rudolf Walter
ředitel gymnázia
Otakar Zych
student Malkus
Libuše Matějová
slečna berních
Elemir Saszy
potulný zpěvák
Ladislav Trojan
student
Stella Májová
Stázka
Jindřich Fairaizl
student
Zdeněk Duss
student Semerák
Josef Henke
světlovlasý student
Miloš Forman
důstojník u Staňků
Gabriela Bártlová-Buddeusová
žena v okně
Commentary
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Based on
Fráňa Šrámek (Stříbrný vítr – román)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Jiří Rulík, Ladislav Winkelhöfer
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Cooperation
Jindřich Panáček (fotograf)
Music
Songs
Slečna Mína, slečna Berta
Singer Jiřina Šejbalová
Italská milostná píseň
Singer Elemir Saszy
Ta naše hospoda
Louka široká
Zdálo se mně, má panenko
Production info
Original Title
Stříbrný vítr
Czech Title
Stříbrný vítr
English Title
Silvery Wind
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1954
Production Year
1953—1954
Production specifications
start of filming 22 February 1953
the first film copy approved 4 February 1954
projection approval 30 December 1954 (neschváleno do distribuce)
projection approval 17 November 1956
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1990
Premiere
premiere 30 November 1956 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Metro /9 týdnů/, Praha)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
106 min
Original length in metres
3 014 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
