The Rabbit Case
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1979Production year
1979Premiere
29 February 1980Runtime
83 minDirector
Jaromil JirešCategory
filmGenre
comedy, bitter comedyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Causa KrálíkCzech title
Causa KrálíkEnglish title
The Rabbit CaseSummary
One of actor Miloš Kopecký’s most memorable roles, Causa Králík (The Rabbit Case) is a 1979 dark comedy directed by Jaromil Jireš. Two years earlier, Kopecký received acclaim for his role as Doctor Štrosmajer in the TV series Nemocnice na kraji města (Hospital at the End of the City). Writer Jaroslav Dietl also pens this movie, which tells the story of renowned Prague lawyer Lukášek, who is forced by poor health to leave the city and move into a small town near the mountains. But far from the quiet life, the expert in human injustice is drawn into a familiar world of evil and greed. The diligent robber of local cottages Pastyřík, or the eternally jealous Vrána, present a depressing picture of morality for the lawyer. Thankfully, local grandmother Márová, preyed on for money by her own nephew, offers the lawyer a more meaningful opportunity. The film’s title stems from the role of the grandmother, portrayed by Marie Brožová, who instead of monetary payment offers meals of freshly-killed rabbits.
Synopsis
Oldřich Lukášek, a respected Prague solicitor, lets him shifted for health reasons to the small town at the foot-hills. In the local advocate advice bureau unpatiently awaits him his secretary Zuzana and work at the penal and offence cases, sometimes odd and humorous, sometimes tragic. Experienced Lukášek soon starts orientating not only in judicial cases but also at the situation of the small town, in which, as elsewhere, exist dishonesty, flyness and pressure of the powerful by influence or money. The thief Pastyřík, who concentrates on the weekend houses, pleads guilty to unbelievable great number of operations, which rouses smile at the concerned at the court. On the contrary, the destiny of jealous Vrána, who attacked his Zdenička after finding out that she was unfaithful, is one of the sad cases. Similarly, cheerless is the case of granny Márová who was robbed by her own nephew. At the beginnig Lukášek loses the fight with him but kind granny is unsparing with reward - she brings Lukášek home bred rabbits. After several hearings Lukášek wins the feud with the nephew. But the pleasure in victory of justice does not take a long time. The smooth-tongued nephew once more deceives his auntie and she takes back her suit. Lukášek could play trump, he could use the negative information on the nephew. But he resigns at this possibility for it would not be a "chaste work". Thus there remains the bitter knowledge that the rogues have always the upper hand.
Photos
Cast
Marie Brožová
babička Anna Márová
Miloš Kopecký
advokát JUDr. Oldřich Lukášek
Jaroslav Satoranský
Karel Joun, synovec Anny Márové
Martin Růžek
předseda soudu JUDr. Petřík
Zlata Adamovská
sekretářka Zuzana Bulínová
Alena Vránová
Lukáškova manželka
Pavel Zedníček
vykradač chat Pastyřík
Karel Augusta
žárlivec Miroslav Vrána
Soběslav Sejk
soudce JUDr. Špaček
Miroslav Plzák
Voice by Milan Riehs
MUDr. Petr Drasnar
Vlastimil Hašek
svědek Václav Chmelař, automechanik
Jana Andresíková
kadeřnice, Chmelařova bývalá žena
Irena Hahnová
Jana Kynclová, Jounova dívka
Marie Málková
servírka Zdena Kardová, Vránova družka
Věra Kubánková
předsedkyně krajského soudu
Ladislav Goral
klient Laco Demeter
Eugen Jegorov
zloděj Dušek
Vladimír Hlavatý
Chmelařův otec
Marcel Vašinka
číšník Láďa
Oldřich Velen
obžalovaný Suchomel
Jitka Zelenohorská
zapisovatelka u soudu s Jounem
Jaroslav Vozáb
předseda senátu
Jan Cmíral
předseda senátu
Lena Birková
zapisovatelka u soudu s Vránou
Karel Bělohradský
taxikář
Miluše Zoubková
Drasnarova žena
Jan Kotva
prokurátor/Zuzanin přítel
Bohuslav Ličman
prokurátor
Vladimír Navrátil
prokurátor
Raoul Schránil
prokurátor
Gustav Jankovský
obžalovaný
Jiří Lír
obžalovaný
Gabriela Najmanová
obžalovaná
Vít Pešina
soudce
Josef Střecha
soudce
Michael Tarant
soudce
Václav Syřiště
řidič nákladního auta
Josef A. Stehlík
Regentík
MUDr. Josef Jonáš
Lukáškův přítel
Slávka Hamouzová
členka senátu
František Červinka
člen senátu
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Continuity
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Set Designer
Zdeněk Jeřábek, Rudolf Kinský, Miroslav Stibr
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Jana Koubová, Ladislav Beneš
Consultant
JUDr. Miroslav Hamerle
Cooperation
Dagmar Jonášová (klapka), Jan Kuděla (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín)
Production info
Original Title
Causa Králík
Czech Title
Causa Králík
English Title
The Rabbit Case
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy, bitter comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1979
Production Year
1979
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 24 November 1978
start of filming 15 February 1979
technical Screenplay approved 5 March 1979
end of filming 6 September 1979
projection approval 22 September 1979
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1986
Premiere
premiere 29 February 1980 /unsuitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Miroslava Hladkého, Miroslav Hladký (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
83 min
Original length in metres
2 367 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
Awards
Vítěz
Event: Soutěž belgických filmových distributorů Brusel
1981
Brusel / Belgium
Vítěz
Festival: 18. festival českých a slovenských filmů Košice
1980
Košice / Czechoslovakia
Miloš Kopecký
