Pearls of the Deep

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1965

Production year

1964

Premiere

7 January 1966

Runtime

107 min

Category

povídkový film

Genre

short-story, tragicomedy, love story

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Perličky na dně

Czech title

Perličky na dně

English title

Pearls of the Deep

English parallel title

Pearls at the Bottom

Summary

Serving as a very convincing example of the creative capabilities of the ascendant Czechoslovak New Wave generation, Perličky na dně (Pearls at the Bottom, 1965) is based on the stories of author Bohumil Hrabal. This anthology of five separate tales sees five upcoming star directors of the New Wave contributing their talents: Jiří Menzel, Jan Němec, Evald Schorm, Věra Chytilová and Jaromil Jireš. (The story Fádní odpoledne [Dull Afternoon] was filmed separately as a short film by director Ivan Passer. Similarly, the half-hour Hrabal étude Sběrné surovosti [Cruelties of Life], was filmed by Juraj Herz). In the film, the five emerging directors of differing styles demonstrate the varied approaches that can be taken to the multifaceted works of Hrabal. The story Smrt pana Baltazara (The Death of Mr Baltazar) is set in the world of motorcycle racing. Jiří Menzel provides his own distinctive take on Hrabal’s poeticism – he would later return to the author’s work in the celebrated Ostře sledované vlaky (Closely Watched Trains, 1966). In Podvodníci (Imposters), Jan Němec presents two old men on their deathbeds looking back on their lives; the story remains highly faithful to Hrabal’s written work. However, Věra Chytilová’s mosaic Automat Svět (The World Café), set in a well-known eatery in Libeň, has a far looser take on the material. Dům radosti (The House of Joy) is Evald Schorm’s black-and-white presentation of the colourful story of a young painter for whom even an experienced insurance broker cannot secure an insurance plan. In Romance, Jaromil Jireš tells the story of the emotional flare-up of a trainee plumber for a young gypsy woman. Relayed as a lyrical drama, this segment is noteworthy for its representation of the largely taboo Roma. The works of Hrabal (the writer also has cameos in all of the segments) are not the only unifying umbrella in this film project. Cinematographer Jaroslav Kučera handles the camerawork for the entire film. In terms of the acting talent on display, the directors largely opted for natural authenticity over experienced performers. Věřa Chytilová was also able to cast Hrabal’s artist friend Vladimír Boudník, who plays himself in Automat Svět.

Synopsis

Five short stories.

Crew and creators

Cooperation

Antonín Stránský (fotograf)

Production info

Original Title

Perličky na dně

Czech Title

Perličky na dně

English Title

Pearls of the Deep

English Parallel Title

Pearls at the Bottom

Category

povídkový film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

short-story, tragicomedy, love story

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1965

Production Year

1964

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 31 January 1964
technical Screenplay approved 24 February 1964
start of filming 24 March 1964
end of filming 4 December 1964
projection approval 03/1965
withdrawal from distribution 6 April 1973

Premiere

premiere 7 January 1966 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)
premiere 21 January 1966 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Praha /3 týdny/ a Pasáž /2 týdny od 11. 2./, Praha)
renewed premiere 27 May 2021 /suitable for all ages without limit/

Distribution slogan

Digitally restored and back in cinemas.

Distribution

Ústřední půjčovna filmů (původní 1966), Národní filmový archiv (obnovená 2021)

Creative Group

Tvůrčí skupina Šmída – Fikar, Ladislav Fikar (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Bohumil Šmída (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

107 min

Original length in metres

2 925 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm, DCP 2-D, BRD

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

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

Festival: 16. mezinárodní filmový festival Melbourne

1967
Melbourne / Australia

Vítěz

Event: Múzy pražských diváků

1967
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jiří Šust

Vítěz

Exhibition: 12. západoněmecké dny krátkého filmu Oberhausen

1966
Oberhausen / Federal Republic of Germany

Vítěz

Festival: 18. mezinárodní filmový festival Locarno

1965
Locarno / Switzerland

Vítěz

Festival: 18. mezinárodní filmový festival Locarno

1965
Locarno / Switzerland