The Magician’s Return
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1984Production year
1984Premiere
1 May 1985Runtime
94 minDirector
Antonín KachlíkCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Kouzelníkův návratCzech title
Kouzelníkův návratEnglish title
The Magician’s ReturnSummary
This penultimate film from director Antonín Kachlík was inspired by a short story from writer Věra Sládková. The script adaptation, undertaken by the director with screenwriter Vladimír Bor, retains the book’s episodic structure. The story takes place shortly after the end of World War II in the north Moravian part of the Sudeten region. New Czech settlers arrive in place of the former German ones and try to build new, normal lives. But matters are made more difficult by the displaced Germans, especially Irma (Brigit Frohriepová), widow of an SS officer, who during the war sheltered her lover – the illusionist Liška (Martin Huba). This man, who undertakes modest attempts to put in a good word for his unwelcome German lover, is also the subject of another love interest – the pretty Julinka (Martina Gasparovičová), who is seeking a new, happier life in the Sudeten lands.
Synopsis
Shortly after World War II, a train brings new inhabitants to the borderline town. On the train, Petr fancies Julinka, who starts working as a waitress in a wine bar. The Toufars, a young teacher couple, came here to open a new school. The Mr and Mrs Konráds belong to the "gold-diggers", who just steal valuables and then disappear again. The young chairman of the administration committee, Krejcar, lives with his widowed father, who takes care of the household. It is still very dangerous near the border. Escaping, Nazis don't hesitate to kill. The teacher, Toufar, dies immediately the first night. Despite this, his heart-broken pregnant wife decides to stay. Petr, who became a member of the Red guards is courting Julinka, but she likes the magician and pianist, Lika. He has a moral debt towards the widow of an SS officer, Irma, who used to hide him during the war and was his lover. Lika lukewarmly intercedes with Krejcar for her, but the woman is included in resettlement. Julinka looks after a pitiful Roma girl, Lola. Her beauty was destroyed by experiments in the concentration camp. Lola used to be Lika's assistant and she still loves him. Before she appears before him, she recovers in Julinka's room. Lika lives just next-door. During the first resettlement departure, there is a mass fight because of Irma. Krejcar charges Lika to prepare a performance as a magician for the second term of departures. Lola enlists Lika, he starts rehearsing with her, but he is cold to her. Before the textile factory is put in operation, the Germans blow it up. Petr, Krejcar and others search for and find the offenders. That night, Julinka makes love with the magician for the first time. The unhappy Lola commits suicide. The shattered Julinka leaves the next day, without saying goodbye.
Photos
Cast
Martin Huba
klavírista a kouzelník Manfred Liška
Jan Kanyza
kapitán Krejcar, předseda správní komise
Martin Růžek
Krejcarův otec
Martina Gasparovičová
číšnice Julinka
Antonín Procházka
Petříček Vejvoda
Judita Vargová
cikánka Lola Bílová
Birgit Frohriep
vdova Irma Schneider
Eva Krížiková
Voice by Míla Myslíková
vdova Strejcová
Petr Lepša
Láďa, Petříčkův kamarád
Leopold Běhan
četník Plecitý
Josef Šebek
velitel gardistů Baloun
Julie Jurištová
učitelka Toufarová
Jiří Klem
učitel Václav Toufar
Václav Kotva
Voice by Jindřich Narenta
řidič Klaus Rösler
Jaroslava Adamová
Němka Schmelingová
Milan Sandhaus
zlatokop Konrád
Květoslava Houdlová
Konrádova žena
Jindřich Narenta
vinárník Kluge
Josef Langmiler
lékař
Vladimír Švabík
vrátný v továrně
Karel Chromík
nacista
Oskar Hák
pikolík
Roman Hájek
mladík
Jiří Kalužný
mladík
Čestmír Řanda ml.
mladík
Miloslav Homola
hubený šmelinář
Gaston Šubert
tlustý šmelinář
Jan Kuželka
gardista-řidič
Miroslav Vlček
muž s batohem
Jana Andresíková
fanatická Němka
Jarmila Derková
tkadlena
Cvetana Igova
tkadlena
H. Kuklíková
tkadlena
Eva Řepíková
tkadlena
Zdeňka Rosolová
tkadlena
Noemi Zárubová
tkadlena
Jitka Zelenohorská
tkadlena
Jiřina Zemanová
tkadlena
Jaroslav Wagner
velitel pohraniční stráže
Natalie Švabíková
Němka
Slávka Hamouzová
Němka
Jana Lewittová
mladá Němka
Ivana Velichová
mladá Němka
Blanka Lormanová
nová dívka
Josef Jurásek
hudebník
Pravoš Nebeský
hudebník
Ladislav Kocourek
krojovaný muzikant
Petr Sekanina
krojovaný muzikant
Eva Weissová
divačka na představení
V. Bláha
četník
Jiří Kosek
gardista
Arnošt Proschek
gardista
Vít Pešina
gardista
Jaroslav Toms
gardista
J. Matznerová
dítě
J. Růžička
kovboj
L. Fojtíková
dívka
Sabina Hánová
dívka
Ž. Nováková
dívka
G. Werzonová
dívka
R. Mrvík
vesničan
Jakub Šíla
kluk
J. Zelenková
dcera Strejcové
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Marta Křesinová
Assistant Director
Aleš Vaverka, Jarmila Čajová
Based on
Věra Sládková (Kouzelníkův návrat – kniha povídek)
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Lubor Červa, Jaroslav Česal, Jan Helge
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Iva Šetková, Tomáš Baloun
Unit Production Manager
Jiří Pavlásek, Ivana Chobotová
Consultant
Zbyšek Svoboda, Karel Kracík
Cooperation
Jana Nečasová (klapka), Miloslav Mirvald (fotograf)
Music
Songs
Hej rup! Chceme žít
Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek
Writer of Lyrics Jan WerichJiří Voskovec
Singer sbor
Prázdná náruč
Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek
Škoda lásky
Song Composer Jaromír Vejvoda
Život je jen náhoda
Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek
Writer of Lyrics Jiří VoskovecJan Werich
Singer sbor
Kde domov můj
Song Composer František Škroup
Writer of Lyrics Josef Kajetán Tyl
Singer sbor
Směj se, paňáco
Song Composer Ruggiero Leoncavallo
Singer sbor
Nikdy nic nikdo nemá
Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek
Writer of Lyrics Jiří VoskovecJan Werich
Singer sbor
My jsme ti Pražáci
Song Composer Karel Hašler
Svítá
Song Composer Jaroslav Ježek
Cikánská milostná píseň
Singer Judita Vargová
Jaké je to hezké dva kováři v městě
Singer ženský sbor
Production info
Original Title
Kouzelníkův návrat
Czech Title
Kouzelníkův návrat
English Title
The Magician’s Return
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1984
Production Year
1984
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 5 April 1984
start of filming 4 June 1984
technical Screenplay approved 11 June 1984
end of filming 21 December 1984
projection approval 28 December 1984
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1990
Premiere
premiere 1 May 1985 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
1. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina, Jiří Blažek (vedoucí 1. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
94 min
Original length in metres
2 695 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
