Hordubal
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1979Production year
1979Premiere
25 April 1980Runtime
85 minDirector
Jaroslav BalíkCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
HordubalCzech title
HordubalEnglish title
HordubalSummary
Director Martin Frič was the first to shoot a film based on the novel Hordubal by Karel Čapek. His picture, Hordubalové (The Hordubals,1937), starred Jaroslav Vojta in the lead role and was made with the approval of the novel’s author. Screenwriter Václav Nývlt was next to try a cinematic adaptation in 1979. The lead role in this drama directed by Jaroslav Balík was performed by Soviet actor Anatoly Kuznetsov. The film’s main protagonist returns home after five years of toil in faraway America. However, Juraj Hordubal’s family and the neighbours in his native village have all become convinced that he has died while abroad. Hordubal’s wife Polana (Libuše Geprtová) has already paired up with farmhand Štěpán (Hungarian actor Sándor Oszter) and has no qualms about killing her lawful and seriously ill husband in order to vindicate her new life... Despite striving to present an authentic village atmosphere, Balík’s adaptation still left something to be desired when compared with the layered and richly detailed novel.
Synopsis
After five years of hard work in America Juraj Hordubal returnes back home. He is looking forward to his wife Polana and his little daughter Hafie. The family and the village welcome him with hesitation. Everybody believed that Juraj died in America because Polana stopped receiving money from him already two years ago. Polana's farm was prospering first of all thanks to the young stable boy Štěpán. Men in the pub first indicate and then say to Juraj directly that Polana has been unfaithful to him with Štěpán. Juraj refuses such accusations and he even fights because of his wife. To stop the slanders he fires Štěpán. When he has to take him back he engages him with little Hafie. In the end he admits the truth. Polana does not want him. She loves Štěpán. Sad Juraj gets a love-philtre from an old herb woman, but he does not use it. He sets out in the rain to visit the old wise Miša, he gets cold and sick. Hafie takes care of him while he is sick and Hordubal gets after some days better for Polana displeased. The following day he is found dead with stabs in the heart. Štěpán and Polana are arrested for a murder. A doctor finds out that their crime was not necessary because they killed a dying person. He discloses also the reason of the crime - Polana is pregnant with Štěpán. Juraj's brother Michajl will take care of Hafie and the farm. But he too would like to go to America.
Photos
Cast
Anatolij Kuzněcov
Voice by Leopold Haverl
Juraj Hordubal
Libuše Geprtová
Polana, Hordubalova žena
Sándor Oszter
Voice by Petr Čepek
čeledín Štěpán Manya
Klára Pollertová
Hafie, dcera Hordubalových
Karol L. Zachar
bača Míša
Ota Sklenčka
soudní lékař
Július Vašek
gazda Gejza Fedeleš
Emil Horváth
četnický praporčík Gelnaj
Vladimír Petruška
Vasil Gerič, Jurajův přítel
Ján Mildner
Voice by Jiří Němeček
Amerikán Olexa Hrymit
Zsigmond Turner
Voice by Ferdinand Krůta
starý Manya
Zdeněk Ornest
notář
Ivo Kubečka
Michajl, Hordubalův bratr
Alice Kubečková
žena Hordubalova bratra
Mária Markovičová
vesnická kořenářka-vorožina
Sonja Korenčiová
Pjosová
Milan Fiabane
Andrej Pjosa
Jana Plichtová
Geričova žena
Ľudovít Kroner
krčmář
Jiří Wohanka
důstojník na koni
Štefan Adamec
Michalčuk
Adam Matejka
Herpák
Viera Hladká
Herpákova žena
Jan Vávra
Poderejčuk
Martin Učík
štábní strážmistr Karel Biegel
Miroslav Buberle
četník
Michael Hofbauer
Ďula, Štěpánův bratr
Gejza Maráky
Hryhorij
Ivan Macho
Varvarin
Alžbeta Barthová
Varvarinova žena
Ján Baláž
hudebník
Vojtech Beňok
hudebník
Róbert Berta
hudebník
František Jano
hudebník
Imrich Mesáros
hudebník/tanečník
Barnabáš Berta
tanečník
Viera Ondrejkovičová
tanečnice
Anna Tóthová
tanečnice
Jiří Kraus
rváč
Jaroslav Tomsa
rváč
Stanislav Tůma
rváč
Dubbing
Jiří Krampol
hlas starého vesničana
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Based on
Karel Čapek (Hordubal – román)
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Ivan Kačer
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Roman Tudžaroff (pyrotechnik)
Stunts
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Petr Prejda, Věra Lukášová
Unit Production Manager
Cooperation
Zora Winkelhöferová (klapka), Zdeněk Mihle (vrchní osvětlovač), Václav Beneš (fotograf), František Remeš, P. Dvořák, F. Mestek, P. Martinovský, Z. Suchý
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Studiový orchestr (Music Conducted by Jan Hrábek), Lidový folklorní soubor Dargov
Production info
Original Title
Hordubal
Czech Title
Hordubal
English Title
Hordubal
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1979
Production Year
1979
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 6 August 1978
start of filming 5 January 1979
technical Screenplay approved 26 February 1979
end of filming 22 October 1979
projection approval 9 November 1979
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1990
Premiere
premiere 25 April 1980 /unsuitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Vladimíra Kaliny, Vladimír Kalina (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
85 min
Original length in metres
2 416 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech, Slovak
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 18. festival českých a slovenských filmů Košice
1980
Košice / Czechoslovakia
Karel Mareš
Vítěz
Festival: 25. mezinárodní filmový festival Cork
1980
Cork / Ireland
Jiří Hlupý
Vítěz
Festival: 25. mezinárodní filmový festival Cork
1980
Cork / Ireland
Viktor Svoboda
