Brontosaurus
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1979Production year
1979Premiere
22 August 1980Runtime
71 minDirector
Věra Plívová-ŠimkováCategory
filmGenre
childrenTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
BrontosaurusCzech title
BrontosaurusEnglish title
BrontosaurusSummary
The Brontosaurus Movement started out as a Czechoslovak nature conservation group promoted by the 1970s socialist state. Founded in 1974, it not only introduced the forced engagement of youth in the wider nature conservation effort, it also inspired established author of children’s books, Věra Plívová-Šimková, to make a film. In her narrative about ridding a forest of illegal dumps, it is the world of the protagonist – a country boy named Tomáš Šereda – that assumes the most important role. Tomáš so loves nature that he encourages his schoolmates to take part in a rather original rebellion against the adults who remain indifferent to the polluting of the natural environment. The director of this made-to-order film relied on lively dialogue, the natural environment as well as the natural performances of child actors. Apart from her son, Tomáš Šimek, she also cast a popular child actress, Dana Vávrová, as the main character’s friend, a girl who goes by the name of Víla Amálka (after the animated character “Fairy Amálka”). Josef Somr, Daniela Kolářová and Zdeněk Svěrák are among those who played adult roles.
Synopsis
Tomáš Šereda is fond of nature, he often goes to the woods and at home he rears budgerigars and cockatiels. With displeasure he watches the adults as they pollute the woods and after the event with a lame roe, the leg of which was injured by ingrown potsherd, he proclaims fight against the vandals. With a friend Žíža they carry out the rubbish of the woods, they nail the warning tablets and when it does not work they secretly return the rubbish to its owners. However, one day Tomáš pays dear for it. To the owner of a car, that also brought the rubbish in the woods, the boys tie up the lumber to his car. Unfortunately, it turns out that the driver is an inspector of schools and this lands Tomáš in trouble and imposition is imminent. But children and several teachers start to understand what for Tomáš ultimately matters. Tomáš's enemy Franta lets out all Tomáš's exotic birds of the aviary. Therefore Tomáš moves to the woods and attempts to catch the birds. At school one more imposition for absense is imminent. But the children start joining Tomáš, help him catch his darlings and clean up the woods too. Eventually, on Friday, the pioneer leader comes to the woods with the whole sixth class. They are tidying during all the weekend and in the evening, at the fire, they decide that as the protectors of nature they will bear as their symbol brontosaurus. On Monday they do not return to school and therefore their parents have to come for them to the woods. But they have to take away in a platform car the collected rubbish instead of their children. It is only then that the parents comprehend the sense of the rebellion of their offsprings.
Photos
Cast
Tomáš Šimek
Tomáš Šereda
Dana Vávrová
Dana Metelková zvaná Víla Amálka
Michael Hofbauer
Franta Metelka, Danin bratr
Lukáš Bech
Žíža, Tomášův malý kamarád
Petra Fischerová
Voice by Magda Reifová
dvojče Katka, Tomášova sestra
Šárka Fischerová
Voice by Magda Reifová
dvojče Zuzka, Tomášova sestra
Jaroslav Kolísek
Pepík Konda
Jakub Němec
Plašmuška
Pavla Maršálková
ředitelka školy
Josef Somr
školní inspektor
Daniela Kolářová
učitelka biologie zvaná Bižolečára
Vladimír Ptáček
předseda JZD, Pepíkův otec
Jiří Zahajský
lesník Buchar
Zdeněk Svěrák
zástupce ředitelky Vladimír zvaný Bobr
Karel Dellapina
předseda MNV Konečný
Lubomír Kostelka
školník
Elena Strupková
matka Metelková
Václav Helšus
otec Metelka
Pavel Soukup
tělocvikář Bertík
Veronika Jeníková
pionýrská vedoucí Jiřina Maříková
David Saudek
kluk Sklíčko
Zlata Adamovská
učitelka
Stanislav Davídek
kluk Vazoun
Stanislava Coufalová
holka z party
Kateřina Čížková
holka z party
Magda Doležalová
holka z party
Petra Dvořáková
holka z party
Marcela Hornofová
holka z party
Renáta Hudrlíková
holka z party
Irena Janovcová
holka z party
Iva Kopecká
holka z party
Andrea Kratochvílová
holka z party
Vlasta Štiková
holka z party
Zora Vesecká
holka z party
Gabriela Volfová
holka z party
Marcel Balík
kluk z party
Miroslav Čermák
kluk z party
Martin Dvořák
kluk z party
Lukáš Hraběta
kluk z party
Michal Hrdlička
kluk z party
Tomáš Hokeš
kluk z party
Martin Rek
kluk z party
Oto Servand
kluk z party
Michal Sůsa
kluk z party
Prokop Výravský
kluk z party
Říha
hajný
Matura
hajný
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
Assistent Production Designer
Art Director
Set Designer
Miroslav Fára, Martin Růžička, Jiří Žůček
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Ivo Pitrák, Hana Jarošová
Unit Production Manager
Jan Kočí
Cooperation
Alena Červená (fotografka), Jan Sládek
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín)
Songs
Brontosaurus
Song Composer Petr Hapka
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Rytíř
Singer Lenka Filipová
Production info
Original Title
Brontosaurus
Czech Title
Brontosaurus
English Title
Brontosaurus
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
children
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1979
Production Year
1979
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 3 January 1979
start of filming 5 February 1979
technical Screenplay approved 21 February 1979
end of filming 25 October 1979
projection approval 9 November 1979
withdrawal from distribution 31 May 1993
Premiere
premiere 22 August 1980 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Oty Hofmana, Ota Hofman (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
71 min
Original length in metres
2 064 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
Festival: 10. mezinárodní festival dětských filmů Los Angeles
1981
Los Angeles / United States of America
Vítěz
Festival: 2. festival československé filmové veselohry Nové Město nad Metují
1980
Nové Město nad Metují / Czechoslovakia
Petr Hapka
Vítěz
Festival: 20. festival filmů pro děti Gottwaldov
1980
Zlín / Czechoslovakia
Vítěz
Festival: 20. festival filmů pro děti Gottwaldov
1980
Zlín / Czechoslovakia
Vítěz
Exhibition: 12. národní přehlídka filmů pro děti Ostrov nad Ohří
1980
Ostrov nad Ohří / Czechoslovakia
Dana Vávrová
Vítěz
Festival: 10. mezinárodní festival zemědělských a ekologických filmů Santarém
1980
Santarém / Portugal
