In his feature debut, Dneska přišel nový kluk (A New Boy Started Today) from 1981, the director Vladimír Drha set the tone for a number of Czech films, which critically depicted the state of society from the perspective of young protagonists. Although, Drha primarily found scope for his work in television, he returned to the world of a “working youth” in his second film Mezek (The Mulish Victor, 1985) – albeit following him from the point of view of an educator. The main character in the story, who was inspired by Jiří Just’s radio play Avogadro, is the talented Luboš Pecháček, who fails to get into university due to his provocative appearance and behaviour during the entrance exams. Luboš ends up having to take up work in a foundry in a small town. Despite a conscientious effort not to step out of line, he finds himself getting into conflict situations. The head of the guild, Kalousek, is fearful of his position, so he primarily gets his intelligent and capable subordinate to bring snacks and sweep the floors. Luboš, however, notices the high quantity of waste during production and begins with the aid of a local technologist to devote himself to coming up with a proposal for improvements. He also gets the workers on his side and they are willing to help him try out a new technological process. The youngster can expect a high financial reward for his improvement plan, but recognition from the laboratory worker Alena and the praise of his anxious grandmother are more important to him… In his original treatment and in his screenplay, which Vladimír Drha also helped with, Jiří Just offered viewers the sympathetic story of a rebellious youth who, thanks to his encounter with manufacturing practices, manages to move from aimless provocation to meaningful work. A low-key debut performance from Marek Brodský helped ensure the credible “socialisation” of the film’s protagonist. The part of the unlikable boss Kalousek was played by the tried-and-tested František Řehák and the role of Alena went to the non-actress Alena Kaclerová.
The subhead in the opening of the film reads "The Handbook of Manners for the Naïve, Crazy, Indomitable and Maturing Youth". The talented chemist Luboš Pecháček fails the university entrance exam. The committee chairman is irritated by his long hair and peculiar answers. When Luboš does not know when the Russian chemist Mendeleev was born and utters that the scholar, too, had long hair, the interview is over. The fresh out of high-school graduate, whose upbringing was strongly influenced by a straightforward grandmother, starts in a steel foundry. He already has a "proper" haircut and clothes, but he still unintentionally provokes his superior – the guild master Kalousek – from the first moment. The fifty-year old man, who left his family for a young woman and now does everything to fund her fancies, is afraid to lose his job. He deliberately charges the bright youngster with inferior tasks – sweeping up, distributing snacks and cleaning the furnaces. Luboš notices the far too many production spoilages and comes up with a technological upgrade. The technologist Koryčánek and the developers' head Volf let Luboš carry out laboratory tests after his shifts. He is move over supported by the talkative and impish laboratory technician Alenka. Although Luboš still feels unrecognized and misunderstood, Koryčánek teaches him diplomatize and he and two workers help him with a test run during the weekend. The improvement proposal proves excellent; it would save so much for the steelworks that Luboš would be entitled to a reward worth a quarter of a million crowns. But the envious Kalousek tries to prevent the actual payment. He suggests Luboš include him "in the team" and share the reward with him. The disgusted young man, who does not even really care about the money, resolutely refuses. The grandmother who feared that Luboš would only stay with chemistry is glad to hear about his relationship with Alenka. The old woman contentedly observes that her grandson has finally entered "the practice".
Luboš Pecháček
vedoucí slévárny Jaroslav Kalousek
babička Jája
pomocný dělník Adolf Volšička
vedoucí vývojového oddělení Ing. Jiří Volf
technolog Josef Koryčánek
účetní a odborářka Olga Kovárnová
laborantka Alena Kaclerová
Darinka Benešová, Alenina kamarádka
předseda SSM Karel Zima
Marcela, Kalouskova žena
Voice by Hana Talpová
herečka Vlasta Mezerová, Lubošova matka
Voice by Lubor Tokoš
herec Pecháček, Lubošův otec
Voice by Jiří Zahajský
Slávek
Voice by Jana Dítětová
kantýnská Máša
sekretářka
on sám, dirigent tanečního orchestru
hlas profesora chemie
hlas vrátného
hlas úředníka z osobního oddělení
hlas z rozhlasu
hlas spolubydlícího
hlas dívky spolubydlícího
Marta Svobodová
Jiří Just (Avogadro – rozhlasová hra)
Ivo Formánek, Josef Šťovíček
Helena Vávrová
Jarmila Bartoníková, Lenka Vlčková
Ing. Vlastimil Volčík
Otto Kamenský (fotograf), M. Věžníková, J. Hamšík
FISYO (Music Conducted by Mario Klemens)
Song Composer Karel Vágner
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Žák
Singer Ludmila Vostrčilová
Song Composer Zdenek Merta
Writer of Lyrics Jaroslav Navrátil
Singer Jaroslav NavrátilPetr Rezek
Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek
Writer of Lyrics Jan WerichJiří Voskovec
Singer Alena KaclerováDarina Benešová
Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek
Song Composer lidová píseň
Singer sbor
Song Composer lidová píseň
Singer Alena Kaclerová
Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek
Writer of Lyrics Jan WerichJiří Voskovec
Singer sbor
Dneska přišel nový kluk
Dneska přišel nový kluk
A New Boy Started Today
Kluk ještě do zelena
film
featuretheatrical distribution
comedy
Czechoslovakia
1981
1981
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1991
premiere 9 April 1982 /suitable for youths/
feature film
89 min
2 670 meters
16mm, 35mm
1:1,37
colour
sound
mono
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech
Festival: 23. mezinárodní filmový festival Karlovy Vary
1982
Karlovy Vary / Czechoslovakia
Festival: 23. mezinárodní filmový festival Karlovy Vary
1982
Karlovy Vary / Czechoslovakia
Festival: 23. mezinárodní filmový festival Karlovy Vary
1982
Karlovy Vary / Czechoslovakia