The Town of My Hopes
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1978Production year
1978Premiere
20 April 1979Runtime
88 minDirector
Jan KačerCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Město mé nadějeCzech title
Město mé nadějeEnglish title
The Town of My HopesWorking title
Josef, Josífek a Josef III.Summary
The censor was not slow in locking the 1969 filmed parable Den sedmý, osmá noc (The Seventh Day, the Eight Night, 1969) in his “vault”. Following this setback, Jan Kačer, who co-directed the drama-mystery motion picture with Evald Schorm, attempted to return to making films twice during the 1970s, each time in the director’s role. There was his intimate psychological film Jsem nebe (I Am Heaven) in 1970 and next came his 1978 drama Město mé naděje (The Town of My Hopes), a story that takes place among the supposed “builders” of a better future. Initially, Schorm was to collaborate with Kačer in making the film. The Town of My Hopes, eventually produced at Gottwadov Film Studios, presents the story of highly experienced engineer Rataj (Drahomír Ožana). Rataj is entrusted with an atomic programme at a metallurgy and engineering enterprise. The demanding and exhausting work eventually claims the specialist’s life and he is succeeded by his son Ondřej (Jiří Čapka) who continues with the mission. This psychological film exploring a “desirable” theme failed to make a desirable mark in Czechoslovak cinema history. Kačer never again ventured beyond theatre and television.
Synopsis
Engineer Rataj has been entrusted with running the nuclear programme at his company. His job entails two vital tasks: setting up an expert team and resolving problems with the production of a steam generator. He fulfils the first task swiftly, and puts his son Ondra, graduate of the nuclear physics faculty, on the team. The other task is more complex. In order to produce the steam generator, a modern electro-steelworks needs to be built first, and that is not an easy feat. Ondra reproaches his father for belonging to a generation that doesn't keep up with the progress and doesn't allow young specialists in its circles. Rataj subconsciously accepts Ondra's criticism and puts the boy's argument forward at the meeting of the management. The overworked Rataj collapses during the discussion about the problems with the steam generator and is taken to hospital. In a coma, the memories of his happy childhood flash before his eyes. Ondra continues his father's work, and like his father before him, he does not count the hours spent on improving the project. Fortunately, his girlfriend Klára supports his efforts. After the father's funeral, the new project is tested. Ondra only now comes to understand his father.
Photos
Cast
Drahomír Ožana
inženýr Ondřej Rataj
Jiří Čapka
Ondra, Ratajův syn
Štěpánka Ranošová
Ratajova žena
Miluše Šplechtová
zdravotní sestra Klára, Ondrova přítelkyně
Tomáš Töpfer
hokejový brankář Honza Rataj, Ondrův bratr
Jan Kačer
divadelní režisér
Karel Vochoč
Kovalčík, člen vedení železáren
Jana Vaňková
Věra Čapková/herečka-Roxana
Josef A. Stehlík
Poloček, strojvůdce mašinky
Jan Vlasák
herec-Cyrano de Bergerac
Bohumil Vávra
Hrůza, člen vedení
Steva Maršálek
vedoucí projekce
Zuzana Fišárková
herečka-matka Markéta
Miloslav Holub
herec-Montfleury
Miroslav Horák
ředitel
Alexandra Gasnárková
sekretářka ředitele
Antonín Beba
Hrubý
Milan Koutný
hlavní dramaturg
Jaromír Polčík
Voda
Karel Bartoň
projektant Ludva/herec-de Valvert
Zdeněk Braunschläger
muž s telefonem
Jan Filip
lékař/herec-hrabě de Guiche
Bedřich Kolliner
hutník/herec-Rageneau
Stanislav Šárský
mladý inženýr, člen vedení/herec-Cuigy
František Šec
vrátný/herec-Carbon de Castel-Jaloux
Petr Skoumal
klavírista
Adolf Kohuth
člen vedení/herec-le Bret
Jana Staňková
herečka-sestra Marta
Martin Učík
herec-Dlouhoprsťák
Dušan Feller
loutkář
Zdeněk Florian
loutkář
Jiřina Fukalová
loutkářka/herečka-sestra Klára
členové Státního divadla Ostrava
herci ve hře Cyrano z Bergeracu
Vladimír Kořínek
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Continuity
Screenstory
Screenplay
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Arne Parduba
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
František Santarius, Emil Hrazdira
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Ladislav Bacílek, Lidie Bacílková
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Eva Stedlová, Jaromír Metyš
Consultant
Ing. Ondřej Kolmáš
Cooperation
Evald Schorm (režijní supervize), Iva Navrátilová (klapka), Jiří Liška (vrchní osvětlovač), Jaroslav Krejčí (fotograf), ZV KSČ VŽKG
Music
Music Composed by
Selected Music
Leoš Janáček (Po zarostlém chodníčku), Leoš Janáček (V mlhách)
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)
Production info
Original Title
Město mé naděje
Czech Title
Město mé naděje
English Title
The Town of My Hopes
Working Title
Josef, Josífek a Josef III.
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1978
Production Year
1978
Production specifications
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1986
Premiere
premiere 20 April 1979 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
88 min
Original length in metres
2 557 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
