...And What Now, Gentlemen?

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1987

Production year

1987

Premiere

1 August 1988

Runtime

84 min

Category

film

Genre

comedy

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Kam, pánové, kam jdete?

Czech title

Kam, pánové, kam jdete?

English title

...And What Now, Gentlemen?

Summary

In his film Kam, pánové, kam jdete? (...And What Now, Gentlemen?, 1987), director Karel Kachyňa attempted to show the contemporary crisis of “real socialism” in the mirror of a typical male midlife crisis, as experienced by the main protagonist, 42-year-old Prague architect Jan Kolvara. Screenwriter Milan Ležák chose the traditional long-distance march from Prague to Prčice as the setting for Kolvara’s internal transformation. The architect sets off on the march armed with city shoes and a steely determination. As his strength wanes he contemplates radical ways to settle scores with his manipulative boss Crha (Oldřich Vlach) and his estranged wife Madla (Soňa Valentová)... Seasoned director Kachyňa chose Karel Heřmánek for the lead role following previous collaborations in photography-themed drama Dobré světlo (A Good Light, 1985) and in an adaptation of Ota Pavel’s novel Smrt krásných srnců (The Death of the Beautiful Deer, 1986). The part of young draughtswoman Eliška, inescapably attracting Kolvara’s attention, was given to Miroslava Pleštilová. Jazz lovers may appreciate the film’s soundtrack which was heavily influenced by Miles Davis.

Synopsis

After a row with his wife, Madla, forty year old architect Jan Kolvara sets off for a long distance walk in casual dress and light shoes. On the walk he meets his younger colleague Robert, together with his girl-friend, the draughtswoman, Eliška and his boss, Crha, and an ambitious colleague, Šárka. Some time ago Crha offered to Jan and Robert to work out a project for a rehabilitation sanatorium. He hoped they would refuse and he could give this job to his lover, Šárka. But both designers adapted a villa for a handicapped lady some time ago and thus they accepted this job. During the walk, Jan recalls memories of his children and wife. At the 38th kilometre, he recalls the sad destiny of his project for a village firehouse. Madla catches up to her husband by car, but she is jealous of Eliška. They fight again and Madla leaves. She comes back with the children and is waiting at the 63rd kilometre. The wretched Jan continues walking and he recalls happily how they worked on the sanatorium project design. But Crha deceived them and presented Šárka's unsatisfactory project to the investor. At the 85th kilometre, Jan's stamina is gone. Crha and Šárka hypocritically offer him help. But Jan cuffs his boss and, despite his tiredness, is even hunting him in the field in front of Robert, Eliška, and Madla. Crha promises that he will push through their project. Jan sets off further with a will to reach the end of the walk.

Film online

Cast

Karel Heřmánek

architekt Jan Kolvara

Soňa Valentová

Voice by Dana Syslová
Madla, Kolvarova žena

Miroslava Pleštilová

kreslička Eliška Roubová

Zuzana Geislerová

Šárka Vaňková, Kolvarova kolegyně

Oldřich Vlach

Vladimír Crha, Kolvarův šéf

Antonín Procházka

Robert, Eliščin přítel

Václav Babka

stavební mistr Pešta

Alena Kreuzmannová

Marie, Peštova invalidní žena

Ivan Vyskočil

starý turista

Dora Boková

Janina, dcera Kolvarových

Michal Krb

Honza, syn Kolvarových

Blanka Lormanová

zdravotní sestra

Adolf Kohuth

Ing. Líbal, zástupce investora

Petr Skarke

Ing. Bártek, zástupce dodavatele

Ivan Řezáč

reportér

Karel Hábl

lékař-kardiolog

Vladimír Salač

lékař-kardiolog v televizi

Lena Birková

uklízečka Švábová

Jiří Patočka

turista Krakonoš

Jan Kotva

odpadlík

Radovan Versigan

jogín

V. Kašík

jogín

Markéta Světlíková

zdravotní sestra

Šárka Štembergová

starší žena na rockovém koncertě

Jan Cmíral

pořadatel

Miroslav Grác

pořadatel

Bohumil Koška

pořadatel

Zdeněk Juračka

člen hudební skupiny

František Kotva

člen hudební skupiny

Ota Baláž

člen hudební skupiny

Jaroslav Vondrák

člen hudební skupiny

Jiří Novotný

člen hudební skupiny

Alena Jánská

dlouhá dívka

Slávka Hamouzová

důchodkyně

Jaroslav Tomsa

dubl za Karla Heřmánka

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Zeno Dostál, Stanislava Hutková

Assistant Director

Bára Jelínková

Screenplay

Milan Ležák

Director of Photography

Jan Čuřík

Second Unit Photography

Martin Grošup

Camera Operator

Jan Carda

Production Designer

Karel Lier

Assistent Production Designer

Libuše Jahodová

Set Designer

Jiří Forst, Jan Huptych, Karel Plaňanský, Milan Šilha

Costume Designer

Olga Jedličková

Film Editor

Jan Chaloupek

Assistant Film Editor

Alena Kravková

Production Manager

Eliška Nejedlá

Unit Production Manager

Antonín Pražský, Olga Zelenská

Unit Production Manager

Luboš Čížek, Gabriela Kerekešová

Cooperation

Irena Strachová (klapka), Karel Ješátko (fotograf), Vladimír Mertlík, skupina Tango, Jan Zajíček (2)

Music

Music Composed by

Milan Svoboda

Music Performed by

skupina Tango, Kvartet Milana Svobody

Songs

Co s tím sklem

Song Composer Miroslav Imrich
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Zeman
Singer Miroslav Imrich

Když jsme táhli k Jaroměři

Singer Karel Heřmánek

Karel nese čaj

Song Composer Michael Kocáb
Writer of Lyrics Michal Bukovič
Singer Jiří KornVilém Čok

Když člověk přichází do let /valčík z operety Líbánky komtesy Lucky/

Song Composer Jaroslav Jankovec
Writer of Lyrics Jaroslav MottlKarel Melíšek
Singer Ivan Vyskočil

Production info

Original Title

Kam, pánové, kam jdete?

Czech Title

Kam, pánové, kam jdete?

English Title

...And What Now, Gentlemen?

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

comedy

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1987

Production Year

1987

Production specifications

withdrawal from distribution 1 June 1993

Premiere

premiere 1 August 1988 /unsuitable for youths/

Creative Group

4. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina, Marcela Pittermannová (vedoucí 4. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

84 min

Original length in metres

2 389 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

Event: Prémie Českého literárního fondu

1988
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Milan Ležák