Centaurs
Country
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Union of Soviet Socialist RepublicsCopyright
1978Production year
1978Premiere
4 May 1979Runtime
133 minDirector
Vitautas ŽalakjavičusCategory
filmGenre
drama, historical, politicalTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
KentauřiCzech title
KentauřiEnglish title
CentaursCo-production title
Kentaurok / KentavriWorking title
KentaurSummary
Barrandov Film Studios took part in this 1978 Czech-Hungarian-Soviet co-production from Lithuanian writer-director Vytautas Žalakevičius. The historical drama examines the political events surrounding the real-life 1973 assassination of Chilean president Salvador Allende. The left-wing politician, who attempted to create a democratic form of Marxist government, becomes the target of Chilean reactionaries, strongly supported by the American CIA. The coup plan, codenamed “Centaur”, ends up triggering civil war in Chile, fuelled by American greed and the Chilean junta. Spanning two chapters, the filmmakers chart the disintegration of the political structures created by Allende, as well as the dramatic downfall of his government. Donatas Banionis assumes the lead role. He is well-known to filmgoers for his performance in the 1972 Andrei Tarkovsky sci-fi classic Solaris.
Synopsis
I. part. Orlando. American CIA and Chilean opposition joined in an operation named Centaurs, whose aim is to overthrow a leftist president Allende. President's friend Orlando, head of the central intelligence, suggests a direct repel against the enemy. President Allende does not agree, believing that all citizens, including the army, will follow the laws. Orlando is denounced by the right-wing politicians, and the president has to suspend him from his office. Andres is appointed to the office. Orlando carries on the investigation on his own to reveal the enemy. – II. part. President. Allende's minister of defence, general Catalan, gives his resignation. In compliance with military hierarchy, he is replaced by general Pin, who is against the new democratic regime. Orlando tries to persuade the president to act immediately, but Allende does not want to take the risk of split with the army. The opposition rapidly gains the upper hand. The city is shortly surrounded by military forces. The Junta declares to free the country from Marxists. President is offered to leave the country without restraint, but he refuses to do so. Tanks and air forces attack the presidential palace. President and Orlando fight side by side with their loyal allies, being killed in the final battle.
Photos
Cast
Donatas Banionis
Voice by Čestmír Řanda
prezident Salvador Allende
Margit Lukács
Voice by Jiřina Petrovická
Angelica Allendeová, prezidentova žena
Regimantas Adomajtis
Voice by Vladimír Brabec
ředitel úřadu vyšetřování Orlando
Bruno O'Ya
Voice by Jan Schánilec
švédský novinář Bruno Nilson
Jevgenij Lebeděv
Voice by Jiří Holý
generál Pin
Jelena Ivočkina
Voice by Jorga Kotrbová
Anna Marie Sebastian Navarrová, Orlandova přítelkyně
Gennadij Bortnikov
Voice by Jiří Štěpnička
důstojník Hannibal Navarr, bratr Anny Marie
Gyula Benkö
Voice by Karel Richter
ministr obrany generál Mario Catalán
Jitka Zelenohorská
tajemnice prezidenta Julie
Valentin Gaft
nový ředitel úřadu vyšetřování Andres
Ion Ungureanu
Voice by Dalimil Klapka
generální ředitel policie Sergio Toroa
Mihai Volontir
Voice by Petr Haničinec
Evaristo, Orlandův pomocník
Tibor Tancozs
Voice by Karel Houska
Augusto
Viktor Anisimov
Voice by Jiří Krampol
kapitán Greci
Juozas Budrajtis
Voice by Jan Kanyza
velitel osobní stráže Ramon
Irén Sütö
Voice by Jana Andresíková
Navarrová, matka Anny Marie a Hannibala
Kachi Kavsadze
Voice by Ladislav Kazda
barman Hugo
Nodar Mgaloblišvili
Voice by Karel Chromík
ministr Miguel
Valerij Kuzin
Voice by Oldřich Musil
generál a náčelník štábu pozemní armády
Stanislav Němec
ministr-plukovník
Jožka Stoklasa
plukovník
Daniela Vacková
chilská dívka
Antonín Hübner
generál
Zbyněk Krákora
osobní stráž
Vít Pešina
osobní stráž
Jan Okrouhlík
osobní stráž
Sergej Děsnickij
Dumitru Fusu
Ottó Füzessy
László Horváth
Pál Horváth
Avtandil Kvirikašvili
Gábor Markaly
Anna Mojika
Valentina Brusnika
Alexandr Friedental
E. Gonzales
V. Chačikjan
A. Chamorro
Ch. Kačeli
David Mkrtčjan
I. Movšovič
G. Oskar
M. Paves
L. Popovjan
A. Ramirez
Ch. Rejbaskes
Vladimir Saltykovskij
A. Sardan
V. Torez
R. Veramendi
Commentary
Dubbing
Vítězslav Jandák
hlas Césara Navarry, bratra Anny Marie
Karel Chromík
hlas sluhy
Jan Pohan
hlas velitele posádky generála Hermana Bradyho
Miroslav Zounar
hlas velitele karabiniérů generála Palmy
Josef Zíma
hlas majora Francisca Conchy
Jan Přeučil
hlas prezidentova úředníka/hlas muže ve výtahu
Bedřich Šetena
hlas prezidentova úředníka
Jiří Němeček
hlas bývalého ministra
Jiří Zavřel
hlas poručíka/hlas kapitána, pobočníka generála Catalána/hlas pilota
Ladislav Županič
hlas vojáka/hlas novináře/hlas muže ve výtahu
Eva Klepáčová
hlas ženy řidiče Juana
Simona Stašová
hlas dcery řidiče Juana
Josef Velda
hlas telefonisty/hlas kriminalisty/hlas muže ve výtahu
Jiří Prager
hlas Vincenta Charpy
Ladislav Krečmer
hlas vojáka před palácem
Bohuslav Kalva
hlas člena osobní stráže
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Avtandil Kvirikašvili, Zoja Rogozovskaja, Otakar Fuka, Sándor Köö, Zdeněk Flídr
Assistant Director
V. Brusnika, B. Levkovič, Peter Miskolczi, Jiří Potsch
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
B. Jeljan, E. Gimpel
Camera Operator
L. Kapustina, József Halom
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Karel Kočí, Jaroslav Česal, Vladimír Slepička, Stanislav Krejča, Jan Hodný
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Jiří Šimon, Edit Basilides, T. Krylova
Film Editor
Valerija Bělova, Marta Geržabková (česká verze)
Sound Designer
Special Effects
V. Žanov, A. Rudačenko
Production Manager
German Krilov, Karel Vejřík, György Rózsási
Unit Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Viktor Schwarcz, Helena Hánová
Consultant
M. Kudačkin, N. Alexejev, A. Blinkov, P. Boczo
Cooperation
Dana Průchová (klapka), Marie Hasíková (klapka), Bohumil Ženíšek (vrchní osvětlovač), Miloš Schmiedberger (fotograf)
Dialogues of Czech version
Direction of Czech version
Dubbing Studio
Music
Production info
Original Title
Kentauři
Czech Title
Kentauři
English Title
Centaurs
Co-production Title
Kentaurok / Kentavri
Working Title
Kentaur
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama, historical, political
Origin country
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Copyright
1978
Production Year
1978
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 28 June 1977
technical Screenplay approved 07/1977
start of filming 07/1977
start of filming 20 September 1977 (československá část)
end of filming 28 September 1977 (československá část)
end of filming 04/1978
projection approval 26 September 1978
the first film copy approved 15 March 1979
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1986
Premiere
premiere 4 May 1979 /suitable for youths/
Production
Filmové studio Barrandov, Mosfilm, Mafilm, Dinpro (účast)
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Karla Valtery, Karel Valtera (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny), První tvůrčí skupina (Mosfilm), Lidija Kanarejkina /ž/ (vedoucí První tvůrčí skupiny Mosfilm), Dialog (Mafilm)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
133 min
Original length in metres
3 807 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech, English, Spanish
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Intertitles languages
Czech
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 12. všesvazový filmový festival Ašchabád
1979
Ašchabád / Turkmenistan
Vítěz
Festival: 17. festival českých a slovenských filmů Hradec Králové
1979
Hradec Králové / Czechoslovakia
