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.
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, Joná, 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 Joná try 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".
bývalá zpěvačka Sandra Kálajová
bývalý hudebník Bohdan Pavlus
Sametka
Sofie Wittingerová
Forejtka
bábinka Krapková
Josef Magierka
Alois Jonáš
bývalý kostelník zvaný Farář
Anička
Voice by Jindra Kvardová
Lora
Filc, bývalý revizor
major v. v. Honda
Perk
vedoucí ústavu
ošetřovatelka Blanka
Standa, Blančin chlapec
zdravotní sestra Brázdová
Franěček, vnuk Krapkové
Eliška
žena s nákupní taškou
Voice by Pavel Zedníček
vedoucí prodejny
Zeman
elegantní muž
strážmistr VB
řidič VB
divadelní herečka
divadelní herečka
divadelní herec
divadelní herec
divadelní herec
divadelní herec
muž v koženém kabátě
Zdeněk Pluhař (Konečná stanice – román)
Ivan Ernyei, Jan Petrů, Dana Smržová
Věra Lukášová, Eliška Sekavová, Petr Prejda
Z. Kopková (klapka), Vladimír Souček (fotograf)
FISYO (Music Conducted by Mario Klemens)
Singer Petra Janů
Singer Jiří Dohnalsbor
Singer Nelly Gaierová
Konečná stanice
Konečná stanice
Terminus
film
featuretheatrical distribution
psychological
Czechoslovakia
1981
1981
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 1 January 1982 /suitable for youths/
Dramaturgická skupina Vladimíra Kaliny, Vladimír Kalina (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
feature film
83 min
2 343 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: 20. festival českých a slovenských filmů Ústí nad Labem
1982
Ústí nad Labem / Czechoslovakia
Jaroslav Balík