Chance

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1971

Production year

1970

Premiere

11 June 1971

Runtime

87 min

Category

film

Genre

drama, psychological

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Šance

Czech title

Šance

English title

Chance

Summary

Following the fable Ezop (Aesop, 1969), which had been banned in the two countries that co-produced it – Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia –Rangel Valčanov created two more features for Prague’ Barrandov film studios during the “normalisation” era. After Tvář pod maskou (The Masked Face, 1970), the Bulgarian director turned to the psychological drama Šance (Chance, 1971), which follows a screenplay by Iva Herclíková. The story is set in the world of theatre and its main protagonists are two actors, Jiřina and Josef. The woman is unexpectedly offered an important role by an Italian director. Jiřina experiences a haunting night during which she vacillates over whether to stay at home or leave her current life (including Josef) behind. Towards the end of the story, it becomes clear that she never really had a chance to change anything… Jiřina Třebická and Josef Abrhám star in this interesting feature which gave both actors an opportunity to show their talent. The film was shot by Valčan’s preferred Czech associate, cameraman Andrej Barla.

Synopsis

Jiřina and Josef carry the day in a theatrical adaptation of Dostoyevski's Crime and Punishment. An Italian director comes up to Jiřina after the performance, offering her a part in his new film. Before leaving to negotiate the contract, Jiřina comes into conflict with her co-star Josef; Josef wants to talk to her and keeps her from leaving the dressing room. Jiřina manages to escape and leaves with the director, an interpreter and an agent. Josef follows her all the way to the hotel where the terms of the contract are to be agreed. During the meeting, the director has a telephone call from Rome; it turns out that, in the meantime, another actress has been cast for the part. The Italian asks the interpreter to break the unpleasant news to Jiřina. Jiřina, who suspects nothing, postpones the conversation until the next morning. She returns home, still followed by Josef, who eventually forces his way into her flat. They spend long hours reproaching each other for all sorts of vices; they get very emotional, talking about love, hate, egotism and cowardice. The quarrel ends when Jiřina tears up the film script and the two of them reconcile. In the morning, the actress wakes up alone. She grooms herself carefully for the meeting with the director. But he only sends word through the interpreter that her role is no longer available. On top of this, her daughter tells her that she is leaving Prague with her boyfriend. Jiřina then meets Josef in front of the theatre and realizes that nothing will ever change in her life.

Cast

Jiřina Třebická

herečka Jiřina

Josef Abrhám

herec Josef

Jiří Krampol

agent Dufek

Gustav Nezval

tlumočník

David d'Urso

italský režisér

Franco Maiorano

režisérův kolega

Jana Krupičková

Marcela, Jiřinina dcera

Zdena Bittlová

herečka Lenka

Nina Divíšková

vysoká herečka

Jiří Kodet

herec L.

Václav Kotva

herec, majitel auta

Věra Uzelacová

herečka L.

Jana Marková

herečka Jana

Ela Šilarová

garderobiérka Zdenička

Vladimír Ptáček

recepční v hotelu

Václav Švec

číšník

Adolf Filip

host ve vinárně

Karel Hábl

host ve vinárně

Milena Dvorská

barmanka Blanka

Vlastimil Brodský

přítel Josefa

Edita Dindělová

mladá žena

Vít Pešina

číšník

J. Gregoriny

zaměstnanec hotelu

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Lubomír Břinčil

Assistant Director

Jiří Potsch

Continuity

Eva Kolářová

Shooting Script

Rangel Valčanov

Director of Photography

Andrej Barla

Second Unit Photography

Pavel Dosoudil

Production Designer

Boris Moravec

Assistent Production Designer

Jiří Matolín

Set Designer

Jaroslav Česal, Karel Kočí, Bohuslav Varhaník

Costume Designer

Adolf Wenig

Film Editor

Miroslav Hájek

Assistant Film Editor

Vilemína Binterová

Sound Designer

František Šindelář, Bohumír Brunclík (zvukové efekty)

Special Effects

Trikový ateliér FSB

Production Manager

Gustav Rohan

Unit Production Manager

Jaroslav Koucký, Jana Koubová

Unit Production Manager

Blanka Rýdlová

Cooperation

Ivana Malíková (klapka), Jitka Bylinská (fotografka)

Music

Music Composed by

Zdeněk Liška

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)

Production info

Original Title

Šance

Czech Title

Šance

English Title

Chance

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama, psychological

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1971

Production Year

1970

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 4 May 1970
technical Screenplay approved 4 May 1970
start of filming 7 July 1970
end of filming 16 September 1970
the first film copy approved 8 January 1971
projection approval 11 March 1971
withdrawal from distribution 1 June 1976

Premiere

premiere 3 June 1971 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Světozor, Praha)
premiere 11 June 1971 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)

Creative Group

Dramaturgická skupina Miloše Brože, Miloš Brož (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny), Výrobní skupina Bohumila Šmídy, Bohumil Šmída (vedoucí výrobní skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

87 min

Original length in metres

2 446 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,66, 1:2,35

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech