The Lost Orienteer
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1986Production year
1985Premiere
1 August 1986Runtime
78 minDirector
Julius MatulaCategory
filmGenre
comedyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Bloudění orientačního běžceCzech title
Bloudění orientačního běžceEnglish title
The Lost OrienteerSummary
Radek, a 14-year old outsider nicknamed Bidlo, is the main character of this comedy for young people directed by Július Matula on the occasion of the 1985 Spartakiad (one of the celebratory mass gymnastic events organised at the instigation of the communist regime). Very much a clumsy beanpole, and so not chosen to be one of the Spartakiad performers, Radek decides to try to impress a classmate he fancies by taking up orienteering. But while doing so, he meets a more sympathetic girl, thanks to whom he comes to understand the world. In this light picture, made upon state orders, the non-actor Filip Toušek impressed audiences by taking on his role with a congenial commitment. Matula later returned to the sports theme with his film Stupně poražených (The Loser’s Rostrum, 1988) which focuses on professional pentathlon.
Synopsis
The fourteen-year old Radek Chaloupka is thin and more than lanky. He is physically weak and clumsy. Although studying with distinction, he tries to avoid physical training – he does not even get on the Spartakiad short-list. For the Spartakiad's sake, the boys participate in an orienteering run, but Radek does not finish the race due to his weakness. The boy feels he should do something about himself, because now everybody laughs at him and at his nickname Beanpole. He takes pot luck with the firemen, but there he fails too and is not nominated to the firemen's championship. The failure prompts him to change his life. He gets dumbbells and begins to exercise and jog, being helped by a wooer of his sister Kamila. And also by Vlasta whom he meets when he tries to run up a high hill, his latest goal. Vlasta invites him to attend an orienteering club. In the first race, Radek runs with Petr. They get lost together, but Radek eventually finds the right direction. On the way, they find Vlasta with her ankle hurt. Petr runs on, but Radek takes Vlasta on his back to the first aid station. Although he does not win anything in the race, he receives the fair-play award. Radek and Vlasta accompany the gymnasts to the Spartakiad. At that point, Radek is certain that he has fallen in love with the girl. At the moment when the TV broadcasts the Spartakiad live from Prague, Radek first conquers the top of the hill. His wandering is over.
Note
The music for the film was originally composed by Dežo Ursiny, but it reportedly was too gloomy and melancholic. The new music accompaniment was thus cimmissioned from Jaroslav Uhlíř.
Photos
Cast
Filip Toušek
Radek Chaloupka zvaný Bidlo
Juraj Matula
Petr Macháček
Vladimíra Nejepsová
Svatka Kahovcová
Olga Draxlerová
Jiřina
Alena Knotková
Vlasta
Filip Menzel
Mirek Hanousek
Martin Pánek
Jirka
Daniel Pick
Venca
Igor Matula
Pavel
Jana Přikrylová
Magda
Jan Toušek
Chaloupka
Hana Pastejříková
Chaloupková
Ivana Chýlková
prodavačka Kamila, Radkova sestra
Daniel Rous
Vašek, Kamilin přítel
Dana Nováková
tělocvikářka Dana
Alexej Pyško
trenér Mrázek zvaný Anténa
Jana Březinová
třídní učitelka
Miroslav Masopust
pojišťovák Hanousek, Mirkův otec
Josef Velda
lékař
Dana Morávková
Mirka
Zuzana Schmidová
průvodčí vlaku
Karel Tejkal
trenér běžců
Dušan Vacek
Hubáček
Martin Sobotka
Jarek
Renáta Hudrlíková
Alena
Lenka Hybšová
Michala
Adolf Böhm
učitel dílen
Miroslav Sovják
páter, hráč kuželek
Karel Smrž
stařík
Helena Bártlová
babka
Jiří Havel
pořadatel
Bohumil Koška
pořadatel
Miloslav Šindler
pořadatel
Jan Okrouhlík
pořadatel/spolucestující
Karel Vávra
ředitel školy
Oldřich Nový (2)
požárník Kalus
Jaroslav Kynkal
požárník
Jakub Ali
Bečvář
Petr Mojha
Flídr
Jiří Procházka (4)
Čech
Ondřej Valenta
Dušek
Pavel Veselý (2)
Tichý
Ladislav Vodenka
Kliman
Jaroslav Votava
Dvořák
Richard Žižka
Macháček
Ladislav Chroust
spolucestující
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Jiří Hruška
Continuity
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Julius Matula, Jiří Sovják
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Milan Bábik, Jiří Matějka, Eva Slívová, Milan Tahotný
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Stunts
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Jana Hauserová, Helena Landovská, Lev Veltrubský
Consultant
Karel Tejkal
Cooperation
Ivana Vlčková (klapka), Jaroslav Trousil (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Mario Klemens), skupina Prototyp
Songs
Svět je tajuplné rozcestí
Song Composer Jaroslav Uhlíř
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Kopta
Singer Dalibor Janda
Pábitelé
Song Composer Ladislav Štaidl
Writer of Lyrics Boris Janíček
Singer Karel Gott
Červenám
Song Composer Pavel Vaculík
Writer of Lyrics Jan Krůta
Singer Iveta BartošováPetr Sepéši
Poupata
Song Composer František Janeček
Writer of Lyrics Jaroslav Machek
Singer Michal David
Kuře na grilu
Song Composer Ivo Pavlík
Writer of Lyrics Jan Krůta
Singer Heidi Janků
V rychtárovej studni
Song Composer lidová píseň
Singer ženský hlas
Učitelka tanca
Song Composer Pavol Hammel
Production info
Original Title
Bloudění orientačního běžce
Czech Title
Bloudění orientačního běžce
English Title
The Lost Orienteer
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1986
Production Year
1985
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 12 April 1985
start of filming 22 April 1985
technical Screenplay approved 20 May 1985
end of filming 16 December 1985
projection approval 2 January 1986
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1991
Premiere
premiere 1 August 1986 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
4. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina, Marcela Pittermannová (vedoucí 4. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
78 min
Original length in metres
2 284 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: 25. festival českých a slovenských filmů Bratislava
1987
Bratislava / Czechoslovakia
Vítěz
Exhibition: 18. národní přehlídka filmů pro děti Ostrov nad Ohří
1986
Ostrov nad Ohří / Czechoslovakia
Alena Knotková
Vítěz
Festival: 26. festival filmů pro děti Gottwaldov
1986
Zlín / Czechoslovakia
Vítěz
Exhibition: 18. národní přehlídka filmů pro děti Ostrov nad Ohří
1986
Ostrov nad Ohří / Czechoslovakia
Filip Toušek
