Olaf Larus-Racek's film made in 1919 stands out for its surreal dreamlike narrative, time jumps and mixing fantasy and historical elements. In Noc na Karlštejně, the most important role is played by the work with subjective narrative, which is achieved through many formal and optical effects. Despite the filmmaker's slight uncertainty, which he uses to create some comic situations, it is a remarkable film, forming the base of the Czechoslovak genre tradition.
Lovers, Jaroslav and Růženka escort Růženka's mother to Karlštejn Castle. In vain do they try to escape from her mother, until finally Jaroslav buys the last tickets for a sight-seeing tour of the castle. However, by the time Mother reaches the castle it is closed and the tour is already in progress. Jaroslav and Růženka get left behind on the tour and are forced to spend the night in the castle. They dream that they find themselves in the fourteenth century and are locked in the castle dungeon. When Petr Cyperský discovers that a woman has spent the night in the castle he brings the lovers before King Charles IV. The King decides, that for the sake of appearances they must be punished and then he allows them to go free. On their escape, however, Petr Cyperský catches up with them and takes them back to his house. They become his slaves. Jaroslav works in the fields, Růženka becomes part of the harem. When they both stand firmly against his orders, Petr ties them together, puts them in a sack and throws them in to the river. The lovers wake up from the terrible dream fearing that the worst is yet to come when they face mother. In a year they return to Karlštejn again. They are now married and have a small baby.
Jaroslav
Růženka, Jaroslavova milá
matka Růženky/kat/otrokyně
profesor/písař/eunuch
stará panna
císař římský a král český Karel IV.
arcibiskup pražský Arnošt z Pardubic
cyperský a jeruzalémský král Petr I.
purkrabí Ješek z Wartenberka
Jaroslav Vrchlický (Noc na Karlštejně – divadelní hra)
Noc na Karlštejně
Noc na Karlštejně
One Night at Karlštejn Castle
film
featuretheatrical distribution
comedy
Czechoslovakia
1919
1919
premiere 2 January 1920 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Světozor, Praha)
medium length film
45 min
35mm
1:1,33
tinting, black & white
silent
Czech
without dialogue
without subtitles
Czech
Czech