Big Money
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1987Production year
1987Premiere
1 July 1988Runtime
90 minDirector
Vít OlmerCategory
filmGenre
crimeTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Bony a klidCzech title
Bony a klidEnglish title
Big MoneyWorking title
Sudá licháSummary
In the 1980s, Vít Olmer’s directorial activity evolved partly from a fondness for genre films and partly from a growing interest in social and journalistic formats. In this respect, he found some common ground with screenwriter Radek John in the film Bony a klid (Big Money). Consequently, in 1987 this resulted in one of the most significant films of the second half of the decade – a drama about a trusting young man who comes to the capital in search of a better life and ends up on a slippery slope. John’s screenplays had long been influenced by reporting work. Big Money, however, is not just an impressively told crime story from the appealing milieu of Prague racketeers, but also a stylised statement on the reality that prevailed in Czechoslovak society at the end of the 1980s. It implied links between the underworld and the police and the courts – a brave thing to do at that time. The protagonist is Martin, a naïve car mechanic who leaves his hometown of Mladá Boleslav and ends up among Prague moneychangers. He quickly changes from being the victim of theft into a player who vigorously pursues backstreet deals using convertible currency, which is in short supply. He enjoys a sweet life of plenty and falls in love with the charming Eva. But, ultimately, he does not avoid his comeuppance. No winner can emerge from the rivalry between two racketeering gangs… The film was a big hit with audiences thanks to the way it tackled its subject matter in a genre style and its catchy soundtrack (provided by the composer Ondřej Soukup and Frankie Goes to Hollywood). The cinematographer Ota Kopřiva, whom Olmer had collaborated with on several of his previous films, added some authenticity to the story, which was set in realistic Prague locations. The convincing Jan Potměšil excelled in the lead role. He had already attracted attention in the drama Proč (Why?) – another socially critical film penned by Radek John and directed by Karel Smyczek. Roman Skamene gave the performance of his life as the mercurial hustler Bíny. He and other actors from the film repeated their roles in a loose sequel, Big Money II, which Vít Olmer made in 2014.
Synopsis
The underhand moneychangers - illegal exchangers of foreign currencies and the so-called Tuzex vouchers [Tuzex, sales system and shops that used convertible-currency vouchers] - do not hide their deals as strictly as they should, and the bribed police see "nothing" far too often. The car-mechanic Martin comes to Prague to buy German marks for him and his friends to get a videorecorder. But the na?ve young man immediately falls prey to the moneychanger Richard who sells him false dollars. Back home in the town of Boleslav, friends do not trust Martin's story and he must go back to Prague. He reports everything to the police, but in vain. He investigates on his own account, but he is even swindled by the outsider Beeny. When someone beats him up, he is taken in by the shop assistant Eva who secretly quarters him in her digs. Beeny pulls the totally broke Martin to his gang that rides the freeway and illegally changes money with foreigners in buses coming from abroad. Their work is well-organized and it pays really well. Martin comes to enjoy the easy money and the frequent parties as well as the chance to rent a nice apartment to share with the pretty Eva. He gets a cover job as a guard, while a pensioner sits for him on the spot. There are power differences among the moneychangers, and when the gang tries to steal a lucrative gig from the stronger competitive gang of moneychanger Karel, they end up naked on a road somewhere outside the city. Karel's revenge goes even further - their apartments are ruined and the black sale of videos goes bankrupt. That is the end of the gang. Eva refuses to move to Boleslav with Martin, who now works at a conveyor belt, joined by Harry and Richard who squared themselves away in the same factory. But the investigation, once launched by Martin's report, continues and there are even some arrests. Harry kills himself on the run, falling from a high floor. The gang, Beeny inclusive, stands in the court. Martin's sentence is the lowest thanks to Eva, the mother of an illegitimate child. He, however, also learns that Eva is in fact a prostitute and that she used him as an alibi during her parole.
Note
Cameraman Ota Kopřiva was replaced during the filming from April 13, 1987 by his colleague Jan Malíř.
Film online
Photos
Cast
Jan Potměšil
automechanik Martin Holec
Veronika Jeníková
Eva zvaná Evička Tričko
Josef Nedorost
vekslák Richard Šindler
Tomáš Hanák
vekslák Jiří Dvořák zvaný Hary
Roman Skamene
vekslák Bíny
Miloslav Kopečný
vekslák Bankéř
Vítězslav Jirsák
Martinův otec, dílenský mistr
Miloš Čálek
Benák, Evin domácí
František Švihlík
vekslák Karel
Ludvík Pozník
prodavač Kovo
Jiří Fero Burda
diskžokej
Marta Kadlečíková
Francouzka
Jaroslav Kohák
řezník Veselý
Miroslav Jíra
Veselý, řezníkův syn
Bedřich Čapek
Holý, starší muž
Pavel Spálený
taxikář
Dana Skolková
barmanka
Vladimír Švabík
Voice by Dalimil Klapka
vrátný v Esplanadu
Jan Křížek
předseda soudu
JUDr. Miloslav Moravec
obhájce
Jitka Hoferková
přísedící žena
Václav Čížkovský
vekslák Džordžo
Ladislav Goral
vekslák cikán
Zdenek Sirový
vekslák Viki
Otto Rambousek
vekslák Rampa
Josef Husák
vekslák
Ladislav Balous
vekslák
Michal Caban
vekslák
Matouš Forbelský
vekslák
Miloslav Halík
vekslák
Georgi Ivanov
vekslák
Petr Koutecký
vekslák
Jaroslav Klenot
vekslák
Petr Růžička
vekslák
Jiří Sirotek
vekslák
Josef Sýkora
vekslák
Radoslav Špirhanzl
vekslák
Jiří Štrébl
vekslák
Petr Weig
muž v plášti
Věra Víchová
prostitutka
Lenka Vychodilová
prostitutka
Jan Cmíral
příslušník VB
Vlastimil Čaněk
příslušník VB-telefonista
Martin Čumpelík
příslušník VB
Karel Engel
příslušník VB
Jiří Klenot
příslušník VB
Pavel Krátký
příslušník VB
Ladislav Lahoda
příslušník VB
Miloslav Mejzlík
příslušník VB
Miroslav Maruška
mladý příslušník VB
František Stupka
příslušník VB
Václav Šrámek
příslušník VB
Aleš Najbrt
mladík
Martin Vysušil
diskžokej /Botel/
Pavel Kopenec
diskžokej /Luxor/
Petr Drozda
vyhazovač
Viktorie Knotková
toaletářka
Veronika Launová
nymfička
Jitka Kraferová
nymfička
Michaela Srbová
nymfička
Ilja Bernasová
dívka
Helena Fleischerová
dívka
Monika Herbichová
dívka
Andrea Sedláčková
dívka
Jitka Svobodová
dívka
Lenka Vlachová
dívka
Viktor Červenka
gorila
Bohumil Hyneš
gorila
Martin Janský
gorila
Pavel Kunášek
gorila
Jaroslav Šimonka
gorila
Jaroslav Tomsa
gorila
Dimo Lipitkovský
frajer
Karel Vávrovec
frajer
Vladimír Tišer
vekslák
Jiří Čakura
vekslák
Zoltán Farbár
vekslák
Milan Šenki
vekslák
Jaroslav Zbilý
vekslák
Michal Matek
řidič švédského autobusu
Jiří Petkov
Voice by Jan Kuželka
vrchní v hotelu
Antonín Lehký
host v baru
Jaromír Lukáš
vedoucí restaurace
Dubbing
Václav Erban
hlas moderátora pátrací relace v televizi
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Josef Basakin, Lenka Heřmanová
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Milan Bábik, Jiří Matějka, Eva Slívová
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Jiří Synek, Jitka Hoferková, Dagmar Pitráková
Unit Production Manager
Pavel Bačkovský, Marcel Průcha
Consultant
mjr. JUDr. Zdeněk Lesák, plk. Josef Janůrek, JUDr. Miloslav Moravec, Jaroslav Tomsa
Cooperation
Zdeněk Vávra (fotograf), Mária Hubáčková
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
skupina Ondřeje Soukupa (Music Conducted by Ondřej Soukup)
Songs
Relax
Song Composer Peter GillMark O'TooleHolly Johnson
Writer of Lyrics Peter GillMark O'TooleHolly Johnson
Singer Frankie Goes to Hollywood
The World Is My Oyster
Song Composer Peter GillMark O'TooleHolly JohnsonBrian Nash
Writer of Lyrics Peter GillMark O'TooleHolly JohnsonBrian Nash
Singer Frankie Goes to Hollywood
The Power of Love
Song Composer Peter GillMark O'TooleHolly JohnsonBrian Nash
Writer of Lyrics Peter GillMark O'TooleHolly JohnsonBrian Nash
Singer Frankie Goes to Hollywood
I Leave It Up To You
Song Composer Ondřej Soukup
Writer of Lyrics Miloš Skalka
Singer Charles ShawSilvia Brown /ž/
Hold Me Baby
Song Composer Ondřej Soukup
Writer of Lyrics Miloš Skalka
Singer Charles ShawSilvia Brown /ž/
Right On My Pillow
Song Composer Ondřej Soukup
Writer of Lyrics Miloš Skalka
Singer Charles ShawSilvia Brown /ž/
Gay Town
Song Composer Ondřej Soukup
Writer of Lyrics Jan Maxa
Singer Diana Green /ž/
Livin' Ain't So Easy /Ty to nemáš snadný/
Song Composer Ondřej Soukup
Writer of Lyrics Miloš Skalka
Singer Jiří Kornženský sbor
It's My Guess /Kam v tom jdeš/
Song Composer Ondřej Soukup
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Pecka
Singer Petr Kotvald
Don't You Keep Your Tryin'
Song Composer Ondřej Soukup
Writer of Lyrics Miloš Skalka
Singer Michal Penk
I Wanna Fly On My Own Now
Song Composer Ondřej Soukup
Writer of Lyrics Miloš Skalka
Singer Hana Křížková
I'm Just Screamin' On /Promítám/
Song Composer Ondřej Soukup
Writer of Lyrics Miloš Skalka
Singer Petra Janů
Production info
Original Title
Bony a klid
Czech Title
Bony a klid
English Title
Big Money
Working Title
Sudá lichá
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
crime
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1987
Production Year
1987
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 3 September 1986
start of filming 10 November 1986
technical Screenplay approved 23 January 1987
end of filming 12 October 1987
withdrawal from distribution 31 May 1993
Premiere
premiere 1 July 1988 /unsuitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
2. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina, Josef Císař (vedoucí 2. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
90 min
Original length in metres
2 579 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: Divácká anketa časopisu Audio Video Revue Zlatá kazeta 1995
1996
Praha / Czech Republic
Vítěz
Event: Prémie Českého literárního fondu
1988
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Radek John
Vítěz
Festival: 21. filmový festival mladých Trutnov
1988
Trutnov / Czechoslovakia
Radek John
Vítěz
Festival: 26. festival českých a slovenských filmů Brno
1988
Brno / Czechoslovakia
