Dreams of the Zambezi
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1982Production year
1982Premiere
17 December 1982Runtime
88 minDirector
Stanislav StrnadCategory
filmGenre
drama, psychologicalTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Sny o ZambeziCzech title
Sny o ZambeziEnglish title
Dreams of the ZambeziSummary
Based on a novel by author, screenwriter and story editor Karel Štorkán, this 1982 drama is directed by Stanislav Strnad, whose previous films include Můj brácha má prima bráchu (My Brother Has a Marvellous Brother, 1975) and Kluci z bronzu (The Bronze Boys, 1980). Seeking to broaden his range from television comedy, actor Oldřich Kaiser portrays automobile racer Bartoň, who dreams of a voyage to Africa, following in the footsteps of the explorer Holub. But instead of setting off on a carefully planned expedition, he causes a traffic accident and ends up in jail. Even then, Bartoň decides to carry out his original plan, willing to risk a confrontation with the law. However, in the end, he learns some valuable life lessons…. In this moralistic feature with an unusual twist, Svatopluk Skopal co-stars as Jindra’s friend, and Kateřina Macháčková plays selfless bartender Anita.
Synopsis
Pavel Bartoň and Jindra Valika, winners of a touring-car race, celebrate their victory and at the same time say farewell to their friends. They are supposed to leave for a trip to Africa in thirty two hours to follow in the footsteps of the famous Czech traveller Holub, as far as to the source of the Zambezi river. That night, Pavel drives his drunk girlfriend Darina home. She constantly interferes with his driving and Pavel runs down a cyclist on a bend. He runs in panic but is caught and sentenced to two years in prison. But he does not give up his dream while in prison and keeps preparing for the trip. As soon as he is released, two experienced criminals offer him "help" in getting the money for it. Pavel, however, rejects their offer. Although he is sincerely welcomed back by his friends, no one really shares his belief in realizing the journey. Pavel decides to leave alone. He sells a small house which he inherited from his parents and buys a jeep for practice. His relative, an attorney called Linhart, arranges for him to work abroad as a car-mechanic for the Rallye Monte Carlo. But Pavel is impatient and thus contacts the criminals he knows. They offer him a deal: they will steal some rare miniatures and Pavel will sell them abroad. But Pavel beats them to the theft and his cronies beat him up for it. The young man realizes what he has done and returns the miniatures. He moreover realizes what is really precious in life: in his room, he shoots the copies of African masks to pieces and accepts the selfless love of his girlfriend Anita.
Photos
Cast
Oldřich Kaiser
závodník Pavel Bartoň
Svatopluk Skopal
závodník a kriminalista Jindra Vališka
Ota Sklenčka
JUDr. Linhart, Pavlův strýc
Kateřina Macháčková
barmanka Anita Růžičková
Zora Ulla Keslerová
Voice by Jorga Kotrbová
Darina Dusová, Jindrova dívka
Jiří Mikota
Janouch
Jana Dítětová
Janouchová
Jan Teplý
poručík VB Fišárek
Karolina Slunéčková
Pavlova teta
Jaroslav Moučka
lodní kapitán Navrátil
Miroslav Zounar
prokurátor
Karel Engel
vězeň Láďa Skála
Ladislav Potměšil
vězeň Béďa Kříž
Karel Vochoč
lodní kapitán Lang
Karel Urbánek
předseda Autoklubu Svazarmu
Roman Hájek
mechanik
Jan Kuželka
mechanik
Vladimír Míka
mechanik
Radka Majerová
Zuzana
Ivo Niederle
číšník
Pavel Pípal
lékař v nemocnici
Miroslav Moravec
řidič nákladního auta
Miloš Hlavica
náměstek Podhajský
Jiří Smutný
předseda senátu
Jiří Bukvaj
přísedící
Dana Horčicová
zapisovatelka u soudu
Miloslav Šindler
soudní úředník
Jan Pohan
inženýr v přístavu
Zdeněk Srstka
Voice by Mirko Musil
nakladač v přístavu, Pavlův parťák
Lena Birková
Křížová
Luboš Pecháček
reportér
Zdeněk Skalický
číšník v nočním podniku
Milan Novotný
Voice by Oto Ševčík
Dafinger
Vladimír Navrátil
funkcionář
Jindra Šuberová
barmanka
Jiří Prýmek
celník v uniformě
Zdeněk Jelínek
starší trestanec
Zdeněk Žák
mladší trestanec
Jiří Flíček
cyklista
Martin Faltýn
úředník
František Bechyně
hudebník
Pavel Blech
hudebník
Lubor Fischer
hudebník
Karel Vejvoda
hudebník
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Helena Rohanová, Radovan Urban
Assistant Director
Continuity
Based on
Karel Štorkán (Sny o Zambezi – novela)
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Set Designer
Jaroslav Česal, Bohumil Kadlec, Vladimír Slepička, Richard Staněk
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Milan Futera, Jarmila Tomišková
Unit Production Manager
Ivana Chobotová
Consultant
JUDr. Petr Šnajdr
Cooperation
Dana Průchová (klapka), Sidonie Žemberyová (klapka), Zdeněk Vávra (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Mario Klemens)
Songs
Nádherný, nádherný svět
Song Composer Karel Mareš
Writer of Lyrics Ondřej Suchý
Singer Karel Černoch
Production info
Original Title
Sny o Zambezi
Czech Title
Sny o Zambezi
English Title
Dreams of the Zambezi
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama, psychological
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1982
Production Year
1982
Production specifications
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1987
Premiere
premiere 17 December 1982 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
2. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina, Josef Císař (vedoucí 2. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
88 min
Original length in metres
2 411 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
