Thanks to filmmakers of the New Wave in Czechoslovak cinema the previously entrenched, ideologically hijacked view of World War II underwent a re-evaluation during the 1960s. One of the earliest films of this type is a drama made in 1965 and released under the rather ironic title of Ať žije republika (Long Live the Republic!). A breakthrough film, it was the result of a very rewarding cooperation between director Karel Kachyňa and screenwriter Jan Procházka. Back then, at the dawn of the 1960s, the more tendentious war drama Práče (The Slinger, 1960) had been added by the director, then aged 41, to his filmography. This earlier story of a young participant in the bitter battle for the Dukla Pass contrasts sharply with the tale of 12-year-old Olin, through whose eyes we witness the final days of the war. The Moravian village of Nesovice becomes the stage for accelerating events as both the frontline and the war’s end approach. The young protagonist lives in fear of his strict father, while simultaneously observing the adults’ behaviour with increasing bewilderment. He watches, for instance, as they show little hesitation before looting a vacant German farm or killing an alleged collaborator. Both the retreating German soldiers and the Soviet liberators are a source of apprehension for the boy in relation to the family assets – a mare and a cart – which he has hidden in the woods at his father’s command. Disenchantment with the world order is of course nothing new for Olin. He has already learned about greed and cruelty from his peers, by whom he is relentlessly tormented. With this film, Kachyňa established his reputation as a lyrical director, combining poetic and dreamlike images with the grim reality of the war’s final days. The impressive visual scope of the motion picture was in no small part thanks to camera operator Jaromír Šofr for whom it was a feature-film debut. Non-professional actor Zdeněk Lstibůrek excelled in the role of Olin, offering further proof of Kachyňa’s legendary ability to direct child protagonists. The film was also screened under the title Já a Julina a konec veliké války (Me and Julina and the End of the Great War).
It is the spring 1945 and the frontline is getting closer to the small Moravian village of Nesovice. Twelve-year old Oldřich Vařeka, nicknamed Shorty [Pinďa] for his tiny stature, observes the events around him, recalls his memories and also finds comfort in his fantasy. Although he is an only son, his father treats him harshly and brutally punishes his every trifle. Maybe he wreaks his vengeance on him for his own unsuccessful effort to compete with the richest farmers in the village. The boys from the wealthy farms poke fun at Shorty and he takes his revenge on them in petty malice. From a hide-out, the boy then watches the fleeing German soldiers. The Soviet troops are getting closer and the farmers including Vařeka send their sons with the cattle and horses into the forests, fearful of requisitions. They themselves, nevertheless, make no scruples to break into an abandoned German farm and steal everything. In the forest, Shorty has the family's only horse, and the wagon with it, stolen by three German fugitives. The boy fears his father's punishment and tries to steal one of the horses from a camp of Soviet soldiers, but is almost caught. In the morning, he meets a friendly Soviet officer and shows him a motorcycle left by Germans which he had found. They together enjoy a wild ride on the motorcycle, but the officer is killed by a German bullet. In astonishment, Oldřich watches the hypocritical behaviour of the villagers who force their fellow-citizen Cyril Vitlich to commit suicide on the basis of purported collaboration with the Germans.
Voice by Jan Kraus
Oldřich Vařeka zvaný Pinďa
Oldřichova matka
Oldřichův otec
pacholek Cyril Vitlich
sovětský důstojník
Bertýna Petrželová
Vitlichova žena
Veverka
ruský voják Vasilij
sedlák Vašák
sedlák Kaderka
sedlák Čumát
sedlák Rez
Vašákův syn
Kaderkův syn
Rezův syn
Čumátův syn
Niklík
Ruda, Niklíkův syn
Pepek Puma
Bedřa
Anča
zedník Josef Petržela, otec Bertýny
Singer
Singerová
čeledín u Singerových
farář
kostelník
biskup/německý důstojník
Ludvík
učitel
veterinář
veterinářova žena
František Nebozes, majitel firmy Auto-velo
německý voják
německý voják
německý voják
německý voják
německý voják
německý důstojník
německý důstojník
německý důstojník
německý důstojník
náčelník
handlíř
pokladní cirkusu
Lubomír Břinčil, Zdena Kracíková
Ladislav Winkelhöfer, Jiří Žůček
Karel Vejřík, Artur Stacha
Ctibor Jeřábek, Vladimír Tišer, Jaromír Kallista
plk. František Golyšev
Miroslava Vopěnková (klapka), Jindřich Panáček (fotograf)
FISYO (Music Conducted by František BelfínŠtěpán Koníček)
Ať žije republika
Ať žije republika
(Já a Julina a konec veliké války)
Long Live the Republic!
(Me and Julina and the End of the Great War)
film
featuretheatrical distribution
drama, war
Czechoslovakia
1965
1964—1965
literary Screenplay approved 23 January 1964
technical Screenplay approved 14 May 1964
start of filming 15 May 1964
end of filming 18 May 1965
projection approval 20 September 1965
withdrawal from distribution 23 June 1970
premiere 5 November 1965 /suitable for youths/ (kina Blaník /2 týdny/, Veletrhy /1 týden/, Aero /1 týden od 12. 11./ a Revoluce /1 týden od 12. 11./, Praha)
premiere 5 November 1965 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)
Tvůrčí skupina Švabík – Procházka, Jan Procházka (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Erich Švabík (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny), Tvůrčí skupina Šmída – Fikar, Ladislav Fikar (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Bohumil Šmída (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)
feature film
132 min
3 754 meters
16mm, 35mm
1:1,66, 1:2,35
black & white
sound
mono
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech
Event: Pamětní medaile Svazu uruguayských autorů
1966
Montevideo / Uruguay
Karel Kachyňa
Festival: 7. mezinárodní filmový festival Mar del Plata
1966
Mar del Plata / Argentina
Event: Ceny Trilobit 1965
1966
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Miroslav Hájek
Festival: 14. mezinárodní filmový festival San Sebastián
1966
San Sebastián / Spain
Exhibition: 9. světová přehlídka vítězných festivalových filmů Acapulco
1966
Acapulco / Mexico
Event: Ceny Trilobit 1965
1966
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jaromír Šofr
Festival: 7. mezinárodní filmový festival Mar del Plata
1966
Mar del Plata / Argentina
Event: Pamětní medaile Svazu uruguayských autorů
1966
Montevideo / Uruguay
Jan Procházka
Festival: 7. mezinárodní filmový festival Mar del Plata
1966
Mar del Plata / Argentina
Event: Umělecká soutěž k 20. výročí osvobození Československa
1965
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jan Procházka