Terminus

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1981

Production year

1981

Premiere

1 January 1982

Runtime

83 min

Category

film

Genre

psychological

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Konečná stanice

Czech title

Konečná stanice

English title

Terminus

Summary

Stories dealing with the autumn years of the elderly are usually associated with melancholy tones and quality casting choices. That is very much the case in this drama inspired by a 1971 novel from author Zdeňek Pluhař. Both this author and director Jaroslav Balík often offered up ideological themes in their works. But in the case of Konečná stanice (Terminus, 1981) we find an intimate tale set in an old people’s home. Within the mosaic of human stories a message gradually emerges that “home is not somewhere, but someone”. This adage is discovered by granny Forejtka, who returns to the home each year after her summer hikes. The same is also discovered by former opera singer Kálajová. Balík’s far from optimistic film strongly relies on its talented cast, which sees an array of ageing First Republic stars of old coming together. The role of energetic Sandra is played by Nelly Geierová; the love-struck musician Pavlus is played by Ota Sklenčka. The part of Anička was to be the final film role for the then 69-year-old Nataša Gollová.

Synopsis

In a rest home in a small town, live people of various educations, former jobs, and temperaments. Each of them reconciles with old age and their situation in the rest home. The old woman, Forejtka, sets out every year on wanderings and comes back with the approaching winter. The former controller, Filc, is a bitter killjoy and he constantly writes complaints. The retired major, on the contrary, actively organizes various activities and trips. The paralysed old man, Jonáš, finds a true friend - Mr. Magierek. Mrs. Sametka looks for her son in visiting hours and does not know that he has emigrated. Sofie is enjoying her money and she goes to the seaside for holiday. The former operetta singer, Sandra Kalájová, brings excitement to the home. The musician, Bohdan, falls in love with her. But Sandra does not take his shy professions of love seriously. The inhabitants of the rest home celebrate together the 75th birthday of Mr. Filc. He is surprised and touched. In order to leave a memory of himself, he decides to plant a tree in front of the home. One day the vivid Sandra leaves the home. The disappointed Bohdan falls into resignation. Magierka and Jonᚠtry to help him. They find Sandra's address and write her. After some time, Sandra appears in the home again. Bohdan is happy. Sandra understood Magierka's words that "a home is not symbolised by a place, but by a person".

Cast

Nelly Gaierová

bývalá zpěvačka Sandra Kálajová

Ota Sklenčka

bývalý hudebník Bohdan Pavlus

Marie Rosůlková

Sofie Wittingerová

Marie Brožová

bábinka Krapková

Josef A. Stehlík

Josef Magierka

Vilém Pfeiffer

Alois Jonáš

Jiří Kostka

bývalý kostelník zvaný Farář

Jiří Dohnal

Filc, bývalý revizor

Bedřich Prokoš

major v. v. Honda

Bohumila Dolejšová

vedoucí ústavu

Sylva Sequensová

ošetřovatelka Blanka

Antonín Navrátil

Standa, Blančin chlapec

Ludmila Roubíková

zdravotní sestra Brázdová

Bronislav Poloczek

Franěček, vnuk Krapkové

Michaela Lohniská

žena s nákupní taškou

Jiří Klepl

Voice by Pavel Zedníček
vedoucí prodejny

Milan Hein

elegantní muž

Ivan Pokorný

strážmistr VB

Václav Bouška

řidič VB

Ivana Bílková

divadelní herečka

Zdena Bittlová

divadelní herečka

Karel Dellapina

divadelní herec

Vladimír Ptáček

divadelní herec

Zdeněk Rumpík

divadelní herec

Milan Sandhaus

divadelní herec

Leopold Běhan

muž v koženém kabátě

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Milena Kropáčková

Assistant Director

Eliška Moulisová

Based on

Zdeněk Pluhař (Konečná stanice – román)

Screenplay

Jaroslav Balík

Shooting Script

Jaroslav Balík

Director of Photography

Viktor Růžička

Production Designer

Jiří Hlupý

Assistent Production Designer

Václav Hlávka

Set Designer

Ivan Ernyei, Jan Petrů, Dana Smržová

Make-Up Artist

Miloslav Jandera

Film Editor

Eva Bobková

Sound Designer

Jiří Kříž

Production Manager

Karel Kochman

Unit Production Manager

Věra Lukášová, Eliška Sekavová, Petr Prejda

Cooperation

Z. Kopková (klapka), Vladimír Souček (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Karel Mareš

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by Mario Klemens)

Songs

Píseň z filmu Koncert

Singer Petra Janů

Stojí voják na vartě

Singer Jiří Dohnalsbor

Pod našima okny teče vodička /parafráze/

Singer Josef A. StehlíkVilém Pfeiffer

Housle hrají, ret co tají

Singer Nelly Gaierová

Production info

Original Title

Konečná stanice

Czech Title

Konečná stanice

English Title

Terminus

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

psychological

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1981

Production Year

1981

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 24 September 1979
start of filming 3 February 1981
technical Screenplay approved 24 February 1981
end of filming 2 September 1981
projection approval 25 September 1981
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1987

Premiere

premiere 1 January 1982 /suitable for youths/

Studio

Barrandov

Creative Group

Dramaturgická skupina Vladimíra Kaliny, Vladimír Kalina (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

83 min

Original length in metres

2 343 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

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: 23. mezinárodní filmový festival Karlovy Vary

1982
Karlovy Vary / Czechoslovakia

Vítěz

Festival: 20. festival českých a slovenských filmů Ústí nad Labem

1982
Ústí nad Labem / Czechoslovakia
Jaroslav Balík