One of the highpoints of director Jiří Krejčík’s filmography was the biopic inspired by the life of the opera singer Ema Destinnová (aka Emmy Destinn, 1878–1930). In cooperation with the writer and screenwriter Zdeněk Mahler, the then 61-year-old Krejčík returned to the spotlight in 1979 after years working in television with a film that told a topical story against a historical backdrop. Božská Ema (Divine Ema) used the dramatic life of the celebrated diva to deliver a patriotic message about the need for inner freedom in a world of suspicion, betrayal, and the totalitarian application of power. The protagonist of this stylish tale is the great Czech dramatic singer Ema Destinnová, who deservedly won plaudits all over the world. Even though the First World War is raging in Europe, the singer decides to return home to Bohemia from the United States, despite warnings not to do so from those closest to her. Once she arrives, however, she is placed under constant supervision by the Austro-Hungarian police because of her sympathy for the anti-Austrian resistance. Nonetheless, the unshakeable patriot refuses under duress to serve those whom she views as the oppressors of her beloved country… This award-winning film on the life and times of Destinnová – played with feeling by the Slovak actress Božidara Turzonovová – does not restrict itself solely to the protagonist’s civic and political activities. The beautiful opera singer’s passionate romances also play an important role, particularly her relationship with the attractive forester Viktor, played by another Slovak, Juraj Kukura. The cinematographer Miroslav Ondříček helped Krejčík create a convincing vision of the world at the turn of the last century. The stubborn commitment of all those involved in making Divine Ema is borne out by the fact that the production designer Jindřich Goetz secretly borrowed some sets and props from the Antonín Dvořák biopic Koncert na konci léta (Concert at the End of Summer), which was also being shot by František Vlačil in Barrandov Studios at the same time and was set in the same historical period.
The opera lady singer Ema Destinnová is in all her splendour at the American stages. But in Europe there rages war and she decides to return home to Bohemia. As an enthusiastic patriot she takes over a small cape on the back of which is a coding chart designated for the anti-Austrian revolt. Ema crosses the border and everywhere is welcomed by enthusiastic crowds. However, it is a denunciation that results in her detaining and her property is submissioned to the examination. An imminent sentence for high treason is warded it off by the secret intervention of the German Kaiser - an admirer of her singing. The Austrian colonel, commander of the operation, sets her free. But he places her under surveillance and determines her existence to find out the addressee of the parcel. Ema's performance in the National Theatre in Prague is called off, the newspapers are not allowed to write about her. She herself is interned in her country small castle. A wood-reeve Viktor, her love, to whom she devotes her weeks of holidays in Bohemia, would need a wife for all the year and children, which is what Ema is not capable to grant him. Viktor abandons her but the colonel compels him to return and give reports on Destinnová. Ema refuses to marry her American manager which would help her to leave the country. She sings in Bohemia at the charitable concerts. Viktor is arrested but he runs away and in secret meets Ema and told her all. The colonel gets hounds on him. Desperate Ema intercedes for Viktor but she refuses to pay back by serving for espionage. She visits the National Theatre in Prague and sings from the auditorium the song of prophecy of Libuše. Impoverished and lonely she lives to see the rise of independent Czechoslovakia. But her homeland does not seem to be too grateful to her. Part of her property is put up for auction to pay for tax debts that were invented against her by imperial and royal authorities.
The cameraman Jiří Šámal started shooting the film (summer scenes and the National Theatre) but the illness did not allow him to go on. The cameraman Miroslav Ondříček who took over the shooting wished that only his name were given in the titles. In the course of shooting there was also exchanged the producer Jaroslav Solnička for Jan Syrový. At the same time, in Hostivař studio, there was shooted a film Concert at the End of Summer. While the same historic period was concerned – the architect Jindřich Goetz was at times secretly borrowing equipment from one film to the other.
operní pěvkyně Ema Destinnová
Voice by Radoslav Brzobohatý
myslivec Viktor
plukovník kontrašpinážní služby
Čechoameričan Herold Samuel
nadporučík kontrašpionážní služby
ředitel Národního divadla v Praze
dirigent vesnické kapely
velitel celníků
přednosta stanice
exekutor z berního úřadu /fenďák/
exekutor z berního úřadu /fenďák/
společnice Destinnové
komorná
okresní hejtman v Prachaticích
správní šéf Národního divadla v Prachaticích
náčelník Sokola
kaplan
armádní chemik
redaktor
muž v černém
četník
italský dirigent Arturo Toscanini/venkovský divák
učitel
operní pěvec Enrico Caruso
ředitel Metropolitní opery
režisér Národního divadla v Praze
služka
venkovský muzikant
venkovský muzikant
venkovský muzikant
venkovský muzikant
venkovský muzikant
venkovský muzikant
venkovský muzikant
starosta
holič
řidič Destinnové
voják kontrašpionáže
voják kontrašpionáže
voják kontrašpionáže
voják kontrašpionáže
vrátný
lapiduch
lapiduch
raněný voják
selka s chlebem
zřízenec v Metropolitní opeře
zřízenec v Metropolitní opeře
kupec
maďarský četník
četník
četník
četník
voják
voják
družička
americký fotograf
odsouzenec
průvodčí salonního vozu
fotograf na nádraží
černý nosič
černý nosič
námořní důstojník
nevěsta
kuchař
pilot
žena s koláčky
tanečník v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečnice v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
tanečník v Carmen
toreador v Carmen
mladík v obecenstvu v ND
tlustá paní v davu
tanečník v Carmen
dubl za Stanislava Šárského
Milan Kadlec
Josef Jarolímek, Tomáš Tintěra, Jarmila Čajová
Jindřich Goetz, Květoslav Bubeník (operní scény)
Karel Laštovka
Miloslav Jandera, Božena Došlá, František Novotný, Eva Míšková, Eva Vyplelová
Vladimír Čumpelík, Petr Drozda, Karel Engel, Miroslav Falout, Josef Hrubý, Johana Janšíková, Růžena Jedličková, Jiří Kalenský, Jaroslav Klenot, Jiří Klenot, Libuše Kosová, Jiří Kraus, Zdeněk Krumpl, Alois Kříz, Ladislav Lahoda, Pavel Myslík, Hana Pokorná, Helena Průšová, Jindřich Sejk, Oldřich Semerák, Jiří Sládek, Jaroslav Šanda, Stanislav Tůma, Petr Valenta, Jan Váňa, Jaroslav Vlk
Ladislav Štros (režie operních scén), Ivana Malíková (klapka), Karel Ješátko (fotograf)
Georges Bizet (Carmen /Toreadore smělý/), Antonín Dvořák (Rusalka /árie Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém/), Giacomo Puccini (Bohéma /La Bohéme, O soave fanciulla/), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Don Giovanni /Or sai chi l'onore/), Amilcare Ponchielli (Gioconda /La Gioconda/), Giacomo Puccini (Madame Butterfly), Giacomo Puccini (Tosca), Bedřich Smetana (Hubička /Skřivánčí píseň/), Bedřich Smetana (Libuše), Bedřich Smetana (Prodaná nevěsta), Bedřich Smetana (Večerní písně /Nekamenujte proroky/), Richard Strauss (Salome), Giuseppe Verdi (Aida /předehra/), Giuseppe Verdi (Aida /O patria mia/), Richard Wagner (Bludný Holanďan /Die fliegende Holländer/), Ruggiero Leoncavallo
FISYO (Music Conducted by František BelfínJosef Chaloupka)
Gabriela Beňačková (zpěv Emy Destinové), Jiří Zahradníček (zpěv Carusa)
Song Composer lidová píseň
Singer Božidara Turzonovová [dab]Gabriela Beňačková
Song Composer lidová píseň
Singer Božidara Turzonovová [dab]Gabriela BeňačkováJana Smrčková [dab]
Song Composer lidová píseň
Singer sbor
Singer mužský sbor
Song Composer lidová píseň
Singer sbor
Singer Božidara Turzonovová [dab]Gabriela Beňačkovásbor
Song Composer lidová píseň
Singer Božidara Turzonovová [dab]Gabriela Beňačková
Song Composer František Škroup
Writer of Lyrics Josef Kajetán Tyl
Singer Božidara Turzonovová [dab]Gabriela Beňačkovásbor
Božská Ema
Božská Ema
Divine Ema
film
featuretheatrical distribution
biography
Czechoslovakia
1979
1978—1979
literary Screenplay approved 17 February 1978
start of filming 11 May 1978
technical Screenplay approved 23 June 1978
end of filming 8 June 1979
projection approval 12 June 1979
withdrawal from distribution 31 July 1993
premiere 21 December 1979 /suitable for youths/
Dramaturgická skupina Miroslava Hladkého, Miroslav Hladký (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
feature film
109 min
3 081 meters
16mm, 35mm
1:1,66
colour
sound
mono
Czech
Czech, English, German, Italian
without subtitles
Czech
Event: Československá nominace na Cenu americké Akademie filmových věd a umění Oscar 1981
1981
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Festival: 18. festival českých a slovenských filmů Košice
1980
Košice / Czechoslovakia
Božidara Turzonovová