The Loser’s Rostrum
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1988Production year
1987—1988Premiere
1 November 1988Runtime
112 minDirector
Julius MatulaCategory
filmGenre
sportTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Stupně poraženýchCzech title
Stupně poraženýchEnglish title
The Loser’s RostrumSummary
This 1988 film from director Július Matula offers audiences a glimpse into the world of the pentathlon. In an effort to present a slightly critical view of top-level sport, this drama tells the story of a world championship failure caused by a hasty change of trainer. Experienced trainer Pour has been demoted to serving as a mere assistant under ambitious trainer Tomšovský. But while Tomšovský over-exerts his charges, Pour, who maintains the respect of some of the athletes, continues to secretly train the talented Tomáš Hakl. But in the end, it is the greedy sports functionaries who have the final say... Among others, Matula’s film sees actors Marek Vašut and Ondřej Vetchý put through their paces. Tomšovský is portrayed by Jiří Štěpnička, while the part of the more sensible trainer goes to Jaroslav Tomsa. Jan Hartl plays a young filmmaker, recording the goings-on at the US World Championships.
Synopsis
The team of modern pentathlonists lost at the world championship in France. Although it is no tragedy to the coach Pour, the functionaries Liška and Lála feel their privileges are at risk. They therefore replace Pour with the ambitious methodist Tomšovský, who is vigorous and ruthless enough but does not have much experience. Pour is offered the position of Tomšovský's assistant. From the very beginning, Tomšovský keeps introducing various novelties and is not even ashamed to snoop on his athletes. But he mainly overtaxes his racers during their training sessions. Later, he excludes Vilda Staněk and Tomáš Hakl from the team. Tomáš does not give up and trains with Pour who eventually decides to leave the team after the constant conflicts. All the events concerning the training sessions are followed by a young filmmaker Martin and his camera, and the young man also records some discussions. Dissatisfaction begins to rise amongst the boys and it sometimes even results in quarrels or even fights. Several racers perform disappointingly at the national championship and Tomáš Hakl – previously fired by Tomšovský – is nominated to go to the world championship which is to be held in America. Liška "slaughters" Tomšovský but he, however, does not achieve his goal of heading the Czechoslovak team at the world championship. Eventually, only one functionary, the big wig Lála, accompanies the racers to America due to economic reasons.
Photos
Cast
Bohumil Starnovský
pětibojař Karel Patera
Marek Vašut
pětibojař Vilda Staněk
Andrea Švehelková
Irena, Karlova přítelkyně
Ondřej Vetchý
pětibojař Jirka Krob alias Mucinko
Ľubica Mruškovičová
Vlasta, Jirkova žena
Bronislav Ohrablo
pětibojař Fero Janečka
Daniel Žák
pětibojař Tonda Urban
Jiří Štěpnička
trenér Václav Tomšovský
Oldřich Slavík
vedoucí reprezentace pětibojařů Liška
Helga Čočková
Urbanová, matka Tondy
Josef Větrovec
sportovní funkcionář Lála
Jaroslav Tomsa
trenér Pour
Jan Bártů
Olda Vondráček, asistent trenéra Poura
Jan Hartl
mladý filmař Martin Rovný
Pavla Karnovská
atletka Dana
Karel Greif
pětibojař Saša Balvín
Radek Líbal
pětibojař Jarda Forst
Tomáš Lochman
pětibojař Tomáš Hakl
Yvetta Blanarovičová
Janečková, Ferova žena
Dana Bartůňková
Marta Hornofová, Karlova přítelkyně
Kryštof Pumprla
Michal, Martin syn
Pavel Taussig
psycholog
Julius Matula
režisér na stadionu
Jitka Asterová
barmanka Eva, Vildova žena
Václav Mareš
profesor VŠ
Jiří Vondráček
Urban, Tondův otec
Václav Knop
lékař
Alžbeta Barthová
tchyně Janečka
Silvie Tikovská
Lída
Marcela Martínková
Paterova matka
Hana Čížková (2)
Paterova sestra
Boris Farkaš
Ferův známý v Bratislavě
Alena Hessová
zdravotní sestra
Peter Gál
dr. Kováč
Eva Vlachová
sousedka Nýčová
Eva Čížkovská
servírka
Martina Jirotková
dívka z reklamy
Zdeněk Podhůrský
student František, Karlův spolubydlící
Zdeněk Matěcha
vychovatel
Jaroslav Šanda
traktorista
S. Ševčíková
Věra, Tondova dívka
A. Pečenka
reportér
MUDr. M. Kostelka
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Oskar Reif, Ivana Adamovská
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Martin Duba, Milan Lekič
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Lubomír Kafka, Vladimír Kvěch, Miloslav Dvořák
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Assistant Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Stanislav Šafr, Helena Landovská, Jana Vocetková
Unit Production Manager
Consultant
Jan Bártů, Karel Bártů, dr. Jan Novotný
Cooperation
Soňa Nemcová (klapka), Karel Ješátko (fotograf), Vladimír Souček (fotograf), Jaroslav Trousil (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Selected Music
Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle (La Marseillaise), Joseph Haydn
Music Performed by
skupina Provisorium (Music Conducted by Dežo Ursiny)
Songs
Stupně poražených
Song Composer Dežo Ursiny
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Kopta
Singer Karel ČernochPeter Lipa
Když byli Beatles lavinou
Song Composer Daniel Dobiáš
Writer of Lyrics Jan Krůta
Singer Dalibor Janda
Poupata
Song Composer František Janeček
Writer of Lyrics Jaroslav Machek
Singer Michal David
Okno mé lásky
Song Composer Petr Janda
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Rytíř
Singer Petr Janda
Production info
Original Title
Stupně poražených
Czech Title
Stupně poražených
English Title
The Loser’s Rostrum
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
sport
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1988
Production Year
1987—1988
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 22 April 1987
technical Screenplay approved 24 July 1987
start of filming 16 August 1987
end of filming 20 January 1988
the first film copy approved 5 April 1988
projection approval 6 April 1988
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1991
Premiere
premiere 1 November 1988 /unsuitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
5. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina, Miloslav Vydra (vedoucí 5. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
112 min
Original length in metres
3 189 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech, Slovak
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 27. festival českých a slovenských filmů Mladá Boleslav
1989
Mladá Boleslav / Czechoslovakia
Milan Ležák
Vítěz
Festival: 27. festival českých a slovenských filmů Mladá Boleslav
1989
Mladá Boleslav / Czechoslovakia
Julius Matula
