The Sky under My Feet
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1983Production year
1983Premiere
1 May 1984Runtime
92 minDirector
Milan RůžičkaCategory
filmGenre
psychologicalTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Pod nohama nebeCzech title
Pod nohama nebeEnglish title
The Sky under My FeetWorking title
Modrá štafetaSummary
Director Milan Růžička is most visibly associated with the popular comedy Trhala fialky dynamitem (Cutting Violets with Dynamite, 1992) and the early days of the TV series Ulice (Street). But from 1960 to 1972, Růžička worked as an assistant director, screenwriter and director for Československé studio armádního filmu (Czechoslovak Army Film Studio) where he made more than 40 documentaries. He was also the screenwriter for a rather slanted drama dealing with air defence issues Vysoká modrá zeď (The High Blue Wall, 1973), set in the 1950s. The drama Pod nohama nebe (Sky under My Feet, 1983), an unwitting predecessor to the Hollywood blockbuster Top Gun (1986), also takes place among army pilots. The main protagonist of the narrative is rookie pilot Olda Raška who is prevented from the faultless performance of his duties by an emotional crisis. With the help of his understanding superiors he is able to overcome his personal issues. The lead role in this professionally made film with engaging aerial footage is delivered by Ondřej Pavelka.
Synopsis
A military aircraft troop is equipped with new planes. One of them is successfuly tested by Lieutenant Colonel Loák. Soon after, Loák learns during the regular obligatory medical examinatoin that he is suffering from a cardiac defect which does not threaten his life but excludes any further supersonic flying. An alert is announced during bad weather. On Loák's intercession, one of the three selected recruits is Lieutenant Olda Raka - a talented pilot, but also a self-assured jack-a-dandy. Just before the start, his girlfriend, a pretty air traffic controller Květa, informs him that they are going to have a baby. Olda's response, however, is not quite positive. He pinched Květa from his friend Petr, and although he loves her dearly, he definitely does not want any obligations yet. He contemplates the problem up in the air and gets into a situation which makes him think that he is threatened by a breakdown in his plane. He is saved by Loák whose precise walkie-talkie instructions safely navigate him on landing. Olda becomes pathologically scared of flying. The troop's doctor Horák knows that only the fastest possible return to the joystick can help. The distressed Olda gets a sick note and strenuously tries to recall everything that had preceded the flight. Loák, despite his own situation, finds some time for a discussion with Olda, whose father had died in the air. Květa decides to keep the baby. Loák accompanies Olda during his next flight. He helps the young man release his fear and also takes over control of the plane for a moment and for the last time. After landing, Olda proposes to Květa.
Note
The movie includes unique aerial shots as well as entire sequences from the airport background.
Photos
Cast
Luděk Munzar
podplukovník František Lošťák
Ondřej Pavelka
poručík Olda Raška
Markéta Fišerová
dispečerka nadrotmistryně Květa Zahradníková
Ondřej Havelka
technik letky Petr Říha
Ladislav Mrkvička
velitel letky major Josef Levý
Bronislav Križan
plukovník, velitel pluku
Ladislav Trojan
MUDr. Horák, lékař jednotky
Jana Švandová
kapitánka zvaná Matka
František Husák
podplukovník Tesař
Josef Větrovec
dispečer podplukovník Mašek
Ota Sklenčka
profesor z IKEMu
Jiří Klem
náčelník Ústavu leteckého zdravotn
Milena Dvorská
Jana, Lošťákova žena
Libuše Švormová
Jiřina Rašková, Oldova matka
Michal Pavlata
Voice by Petr Skarke
pilot Zdeněk
Hana Kolářová
Darina, květina kamarádka
Jitka Zelenohorská
meteoroložka
Jan Kuželka
četař, pomocník lékaře
Zora Muchová
Blanka, Lošťákova dcera
Karel Hábl
náčelník štábu
Miroslav Chochola
náčelník KOK
Igor Smržík
letovod
Zuzana Schulzová
manželka letovoda
Vladimír Pospíšil
dozorčí pluku
František Olšovský
biletář
Bohumil Koška
biletář
Jana Bermanová
manželka Levého
Josef Fousek
frajer na diskotéce
Otakar Brousek ml.
pilot Joža
Jan Cmíral ml.
pilot Jindra
Roman Hájek
pilot Palo
Pavel Havránek
pilot Jirka
Rostislav Kuba
pilot Boris
Petr Růžička
planšetista
Jana Kasanová
manželka Tesaře
Josef Šebek
dozorčí ILZ
Václav Kotva
číšník
Yveta Pavlíková
Jan Filip
muzikant, člen skupiny Kantoři
Miloš Dvořáček
muzikant, člen skupiny Kantoři
Ludmila Dvořáčková
muzikantka, členka skupiny Kantoři
Tomáš Uhlíř
muzikant, člen skupiny Kantoři
mjr. Ing. Vladimír Griga
člen akrobatické letecké skupiny
mjr. Josef Kaštánek
člen akrobatické letecké skupiny
mjr. Ing. Jozef Mocsi
člen akrobatické letecké skupiny
pplk. Miloslav Vítek
člen akrobatické letecké skupiny
Miroslav Beran
dubl – pilot
Julius Gábel
dubl – pilot
Dušan Halický
dubl – pilot
Miroslav Jirásek
dubl – pilot
Emil Komjati
dubl – pilot
Jaroslav Kavka
dubl – pilot
Zdeněk Kieslinger
dubl – pilot
Petr Kopeček
dubl – pilot
Josef Měkuta
dubl – pilot
Jiří Moutvička
dubl – pilot
Jaromír Musil
dubl – pilot
Stanislav Novotný
dubl – pilot
František Padělek
dubl – pilot
Josef Palos
dubl – pilot
Josef Rada
dubl – pilot
Petr Sokol (2)
dubl – pilot
Michal Škvarka
dubl – pilot
Jan Vavřička
dubl – pilot
Karel Viewegh
dubl – pilot
Šárka Moutvičková
miminko
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Vítězslav Kulle
Assistant Director
Josef Sandr, Jaromír Flek
Continuity
Screenstory
plk. Ing. Josef Pavlík, Milan Růžička
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Karel Kracík, Miloš Sršeň, Milan Šefrna, František Struska
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Jarmila Benešová (2), Viktor Schwarcz
Consultant
genmjr. Ing. Jaroslav Štecha, mjr. René Toman, nprap. Růžena Danielová
Cooperation
P. Čiperová (klapka), Vladimír Souček (fotograf), Jiří Horák, Ministerstvo národní obrany ČSSR, příslušníci ČSLA – letectva
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)
Songs
Na našem dvoře
Singer skupina Kantoři
V slepých uličkách
Song Composer Miro Žbirka
Writer of Lyrics Kamil Peteraj
Singer Miro ŽbirkaMarika Gombitová
Production info
Original Title
Pod nohama nebe
Czech Title
Pod nohama nebe
English Title
The Sky under My Feet
Working Title
Modrá štafeta
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
psychological
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1983
Production Year
1983
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 22 June 1982
start of filming 26 January 1983
technical Screenplay approved 7 February 1983
end of filming 12 September 1983
projection approval 28 September 1983
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1989
Premiere
premiere 1 May 1984 /unsuitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
5. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina, Miloslav Vydra (vedoucí 5. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
92 min
Original length in metres
2 638 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: 22. festival českých a slovenských filmů Banská Bystrica
1984
Banská Bystrica / Czechoslovakia
kolektiv tvůrců filmu
