František Vláčil did not direct his first feature film until 1960 at the age of 36. But as soon as the poetic Holubice (The White Dove) was released it put Vláčil’s name on the Czechoslovak and international cinema map as an artist with a strong aesthetic vision, elegant visual style, and an almost architectural approach to storytelling. A postal dove gets lost on the way from northern France to Germany. The bird serves as a vehicle for changes in the life of Prague lad Michal, confined to a wheelchair following an accident. Graphic artist Martin (Václav Irmanov) both observes and assists Michal’s physical and spiritual recovery. The message of empathy and friendship between nations personified by children is underscored by the character of young girl Susanne, who, thanks to Martin’s pictures, manages to eventually track down her missing dove. Michal is portrayed by future successful film director Karel Smyczek.
Hundreds of carrier pigeons are released for long-distance flights in the north of France. On Fehmarn Island in the Baltic sea a group of old sailors and twelve year old Susanne are waiting for the return of their pigeons. But the girl's white dove doesn't come back, the storm has carried it all the way to Central Europe. In a studio in the centre of Prague, painter Martin catches sight of her. The tired bird is presently shot with an air-gun by Michal, a young boy in a wheelchair. A while ago, he became paralysed after a fall from a height. However, his disability is more of a psychological one. Martin brings him the wounded dove. Michal tries to heal the bird. In the meantime, Susanne is still waiting sadly. Michal gets an idea to heat the bird with a sun-ray lamp and stands up and makes a few steps to get it from the shelf. At a pigeon exhibition, Martin finds out from a public notice board where the bird has come from. He paints her picture and sends it to Germany. Both the dove and Michal are getting better. Martin carefully persuades Michal to let the dove go. The white bird flies north. Susanne understands that her dove is coming back to her, and is running along the sea shore with the picture in her hand.
Susanne Kleistová
Michal
Michalova matka
malíř Martin
Kohoutí stařík
Ulli, Susannin bratr
starý pán
Pierre
francouzský dělník
šašek
dvojče
dvojče
dubl za Václava Irmanovova – ruce při kresbách a monotypech
Otakar Kirchner (Susanne – povídka)
Theodor Pištěk ml., Jan Koblasa (plastika na břehu moře)
Ladislav Winkelhöfer, Jan Petrů
František Štěpánek, Jiří Nekola, Jiří Ulrich
Miloslav Mirvald (fotograf), Jaroslav Skála (fotograf), Jiří Všetečka (fotograf)
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín), Orchestr Karla Krautgartnera (Music Conducted by Karel Krautgartner)
Holubice
Holubice
The White Dove
Bílá holubice / Susanne
film
featuretheatrical distribution
film-poem
Czechoslovakia
1960
1959
literary Screenplay approved 21 January 1959
technical Screenplay approved 6 April 1959
start of filming 26 June 1959
end of filming 12 November 1959
the first film copy approved 19 March 1960
projection approval 22 March 1960
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1991
preview 28 June 1960 (kino Sevastopol, Praha)
premiere 4 November 1960 /suitable for youths/ (kina Jalta /1 týden/ a Paříž /1 týden/, Praha)
Tvůrčí skupina Hanuš – Pavlíček, Ladislav Hanuš (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny), František Pavlíček (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny)
feature film
73 min
2 080 meters
16mm, 35mm
1:1,37
black & white
sound
mono
Czech
Czech, German, French
Czech
Czech
Festival: Mezinárodní filmový festival Cartagena
1962
Cartagena / Colombia
Festival: 5. mezinárodní festival dokumentárních a experimentálních filmů Montevideo
1962
Montevideo / Uruguay
Festival: 2. mezinárodní festival dětského filmu Mar del Plata
1961
Mar del Plata / Argentina
František Vláčil
Festival: 3. mezinárodní filmové setkání Prades
1961
Prades / France
Festival: Mezinárodní setkání filmů pro mládež Cannes
1961
Cannes / France
Festival: 2. mezinárodní festival dětského filmu Mar del Plata
1961
Mar del Plata / Argentina
Festival: 2. filmový festival Versailles
1961
Versailles / France
Festival: Mezinárodní setkání filmů pro mládež Cannes
1961
Cannes / France
Festival: 21. mezinárodní filmový festival Benátky
1960
Benátky / Italy
Jan Čuřík
Festival: 21. mezinárodní filmový festival Benátky
1960
Benátky / Italy
František Vláčil
Event: 2. soutěž o nejlepší filmovou fotografii roku 1959
1959
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Miloslav Mirvald
Event: 2. soutěž o nejlepší filmovou fotografii roku 1959
1959
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Miloslav Mirvald