Grandpa, Kylian and I

Summary

The contrast between the big city and the disappearing, idyllic countryside is emphasised by Jiří Hanibal’s family film from 1966. At the time, in the mid-1960s, the 37-year-old director was one of those successful filmmakers who made two works independently of the spark provided by the Czechoslovak New Wave. Both then and later, he added a number of other films to his account whose protagonists were children (Malé letní blues [Little Summer Blues, 1967], Údolí krásných žab [The Valley of Beautiful Frogs, 1973], Anna, sestra Jany [Anna, Jana’s Sister, 1975], Neohlížej se, jde za námi kůň! [Don’t Look Round, a Horse Follows Us!, 1979], and Útěk s Cézarem [Escaping with Cézar, 1989]). The film was inspired by a novella from the writer Jan Ryska, who collaborated with the director on the screenplay for this story intended primarily for children. The protagonist is 5-year-old Jožánek Karpíšek, whose doctor parents (Jiřina Jirásková, Zdeněk Ornest) depart for two months on a business trip abroad. They entrust their son to their neighbour Ms Pokorná (Slávka Budínová), but she proves unable to look after the mischievous boy. Jožánek thus decides to spend the summer with his beloved grandfather in the countryside. The small boy’s escape from the city to the summer tranquillity of a village is successful, but in the heart of nature Jožánek also encounters the unavoidable changes that are happening in the good old world. His grandpa’s job as a ferryman is becoming redundant, because a new bridge has been built across the river. Nonetheless, Jožánek decides that an old folks’ home is not the place for the old man or his loyal donkey. In an idealistic finale, he finds a new home in the city for his grandfather and his animals… Seven-year-old David Schneider made his debut in this light, summer comedy. He next appeared in another of Hanibal’s films, Červená kůlna (Red Shed, 1968). Grandpa Karpíšek was played by the popular Rudolf Deyl Jr. His acting career ended a year later when he died before his time at just 55 years of age.

Synopsis