Her Stepdaughter
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1929Production year
1929Premiere
28 February 1930Runtime
101 minDirector
Rudolf MěšťákCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Její pastorkyňaSecond title
JenufaCzech title
Její pastorkyňaEnglish title
Her StepdaughterEnglish parallel title
JenufaSynopsis
After the death of landowner Burija, his property is put up for auction. The landowner's impoverished widow Kostelnička takes in the orphan Jenůfa. After several years Jenufa grows up and Laco and Števa try to win her affections. Jenůfa dances with both admirers at the village fair but she spends the night with Števa. Their affair leaves Jenůfa pregnant. Jenůfa confides in Kostelnička and has the child in secret. Nevertheless Števa abandons her. Laco would like to marry her but he does not want her with a child. Goaded by the devil, Kostelnička gives Jenůfa a sleeping draught and drowns the baby in the lake under the ice. She then tells the girl that her baby has died and she quickly begins preparations for the wedding with Laco. Just when the priest is giving them his blessings, an old man rushes up with the news that someone has drowned a baby in the lake. Jenůfa recognises her own baby-son . Kostelnička confesses to her crime and the mayor and a policeman lead her away. Laco remains faithful to Jenůfa.
Note
At the beginning of the film are two portraits of the writer Gabriela Preissová and the composer Leoš Janáček. Gabriela Horvátová was the first Kostelnička in Janáček´s opera Její pastorkyňa (Jenůfa).
Photos
Cast
Gabriela Horvátová
Kostelnička
Thilde Ondra
Jenůfa
Václav Norman
Števa Burija
Stanislav Sedláček
Števův bratr Laco
Lili Měšťáková
malá Jenůfka
Ludmila Folprechtová
stařenka Burijová
Filip Balek-Brodský
starosta
Milka Balek-Brodská
starostova žena
F. X. Mlejnek
ďábel
Crew and creators
Director
Based on
Gabriela Preissová (Její pastorkyňa – drama)
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Production Designer
Production info
Original Title
Její pastorkyňa
Czech Title
Její pastorkyňa
Second Title
Jenufa
English Title
Her Stepdaughter
English Parallel Title
Jenufa
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1929
Production Year
1929
Production specifications
date of censorship 11 November 1929
date of censorship 07/1935 (konec povolení k promítání 1940)
Premiere
premiere 28 February 1930 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Olympic /1 týden/ a Radio /1 týden/, Praha)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
101 min
Original length in metres
2 860 meters
Distribution carrier
35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,33
Colour
black & white
Sound
silent
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
without dialogue
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Intertitles languages
Czech
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
