School for Fathers

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1957

Production year

1957

Premiere

8 November 1957

Runtime

100 min

Category

film

Genre

drama, social, psychological

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Škola otců

Czech title

Škola otců

English title

School for Fathers

Synopsis

After a failed marriage, the teacher Pelikán arranges to be moved from Brno to a small provincial town. Pelikán's first impression of the new place is not very exciting. The young school headteacher is more interested in statistics and celebrations than real teaching. Pelikán also realizes that shortcomings of the school as well as the pupils are covered up by ideological platitudes above "class consciousness" which are misused especially by Vašík Janouch, the son of the chairman of the district National Commitee. At the same time, children don't have the necessary knowledge and Pelikán has to lower some of the qualifications. Vašík also gets bad marks. The parents show no understanding for the teacher's strictness and Janouch's wife really sets everybody against him. His young colleague Andulka Novotná is Pelikán's only supporter. Despite their parents' anger, Pelikán wins the trust of the children. Another scandal, however, takes what is left of the teacher's strength to fight against dishonesty and hypocrisy. He takes the side of little Lojzík Kotačka, whose bicycle Vašík broke, and hurries to help Lojzík's mother, who is being menaced by her common-law partner. Citizens call a meeting and ask for Pelikán's resignation. Janouch takes Pelikán's side but it is too late now as the disappointed teacher has already left.

Cast

Karel Höger

učitel Jindřich Pelikán

Blažena Holišová

učitelka Andulka Novotná

Josef Mixa

ředitel školy Karel Pohanka

Ladislav Pešek

učitel Bajtek

Vladimír Hlavatý

předseda ONV Janouch

Marie Vášová

Janouchova žena

Rudolf Hrušínský

opilec Mlčoch

Josef Beyvl

učitel Burian

Eliška Svobodová

Zálesáková

Jan Skopeček

učitel Arnošt Krejčík

Petr Adámek

Lojzík Kotačka

Aleš Košnar

Vašík Janouch

Jana Chlumská

Věruška

Hana Kazdová (2)

Blaženka

Zdeněk Janík

Cyril

Antonín Ježdík

Jožka

Vlasta Chramostová

Zdenka, Pelikánova žena

Libuše Hofmanová

tanečnice na plese

Hermína Vojtová

rozčílená matka

Eman Fiala

rozčílený otec

Jiřina Bohdalová

učitelka Zálešáková

Lubomír Kostelka

host v hospodě

Ema Skálová

matka na třídní schůzce

Václav Švec

otec na třídní schůzce

Antonín Žďárský

otec na třídní schůzce

Josef Steigl

otec Bedrna

Josef Příhoda

hráč kuželek

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Tomáš Kulík

Screenstory

Ivan Kříž

Shooting Script

Ladislav Helge

Director of Photography

Ferdinand Pečenka

Second Unit Photography

Josef Novotný

Camera Operator

Rudolf Jokl

Production Designer

Jaroslav Krška

Costume Designer

Karel Postřehovský

Production Manager

Jaroslav Prokop

Unit Production Manager

Jaroslav Kučera

Cooperation

Miroslav Pešan (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Gustav Křivinka

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín), František Hanták /sólo na hoboj/

Production info

Original Title

Škola otců

Czech Title

Škola otců

English Title

School for Fathers

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama, social, psychological

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1957

Production Year

1957

Production specifications

projection approval 8 October 1957
withdrawal from distribution 6 April 1973

Premiere

preview 1 November 1957 (kino Sevastopol /1 týden/, Praha)
premiere 8 November 1957 /suitable for youths/ (kina Moskva /5 týdnů/, Svornost /1 týden/, Flora /1 týden od 15. 11./, Oko /½ týdne od 26. 11./ a Revoluce /1 týden od 6. 12./, Praha)

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Studio

Hostivař

Creative Group

Tvůrčí skupina Šmída – Kabelík, Vladimír Kabelík (vedoucí tvůrčí skupiny), Bohumil Šmída (vedoucí tvůrčí skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

100 min

Original length in metres

2 840 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech

Awards

Vítěz

Event: Cena československé filmové kritiky za rok 1957

1958
Praha / Czechoslovakia

Vítěz

Event: Státní ceny za rok 1957

1958
Praha / Czechoslovakia
kolektiv tvůrců

Vítěz

Event: Anketa čtenářů deníku Smena o nejoblíbenější československé a sovětské filmy, herce a herečky roku 1958

1958
Bratislava / Czechoslovakia
Karel Höger

Vítěz

Event: Anketa čtenářů deníku Smena o nejoblíbenější československé a sovětské filmy, herce a herečky roku 1958

1958
Bratislava / Czechoslovakia