A Hot Problem
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1988Production year
1987—1988Premiere
1 January 1989Runtime
83 minDirector
Radovan UrbanCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Horká kašeCzech title
Horká kašeEnglish title
A Hot ProblemWorking title
Jak se kreslí nulaSummary
With their parents too busy to notice, a lack of adult guidance and oversight allows a group of young adolescents to inflict their malignant worst on a city housing estate. The group’s frequent bouts of moodiness and aggression are stirred up by heavy metal music from the band Vitacit… In 1988, director Radovan Urban and screenwriter Miloš Cajthaml attempted to draw attention to issues faced by youths left to their own devices in the massed suburban blocks of social housing outside Czech cities (Prague’s Jižní Město in particular). The story’s protagonist, ninth-grader Honza Kovář, falls in with a gang of misfits and vandals who also rob local children and pensioners. Honza’s naivety eventually costs him dear, including his girlfriend Lucka… The film, leaving something to be desired in terms of authenticity, starred Petr Bok (Honza) and Lucie Benešová (Lucka). Heavy metal fans may also enjoy the performances of singer Lucie Bílá and the band Vitacit.
Synopsis
Honza Kovář, a pupil in the last year of primary school, was badly injured by a reckless car driver and was under medical treatment for a year. He missed school and now, being 16 years old, he is the oldest member of the class. He is dating with his schoolmate Lucka a bit, the only child of a TV reporter and a very busy father. They live in the largest Prague suburb, called Jižní Město (Southern Town). People feel lost in the greyness of the blocs of houses. Some youngsters took a liking to heavy metal music and go to concerts of the Czech heavy metal group, Vitacit. After a minor incident with the group leader, Věra, Honza stops helping as a volunteer for events for children. He mingles with a bunch of boys led by the reckless and egoistic Ondra. Their activities are strange. They rob smaller children of money for shopping and they even victimise pensioners. They laugh at Honza and because of it, he stops helping a handicapped girl he knows from the hospital. The bunch has a vague plan to set up a music group, but they just continue fighting and vandalism. After a provocation at a concert they are even thrown out. Ondra invites the bunch, including Honza and Lucka, to his parents' villa, as they are never home. They are all drunk and Radek lures Lucka away. Honza is playing a computer game and does not sense that the scared girl will be raped by Radek and then by Ondra and Petr. When Honza tries to protect her, he gets a blow that knocks him out. The shocked girl and unconscious Honza are dragged by the bunch to the street, where they leave them next to a broken phone box. They are first helped by a young couple – metal fans. At the intensive care unit, Honza's father watches with a relief as his son opens his eyes. Lucka's parents are arguing desperately over their guilt.
Photos
Cast
Petr Bok
Honza Kovář
Dana Syslová
kuchařka Kovářová, Honzova matka
Miloš Vávra
soustružník Kovář, Honzův otec
Tomáš Růžička
Mirek, Honzův bratr
Lucie Benešová
Lucka Adamová, Honzova spolužačka
Daniela Kolářová
televizní reportérka Adamová, Lucčina matka
Čestmír Gebouský
Adam, otec Lucky
Ondřej Votoček
David Šmíd, Mirkův spolužák
Vítězslav Jandák
Šmíd, Davidův otec
Roman Fišer
Radek, člen party na Jižním Městě
Jiří Petr
Ondra, člen party na Jižním Městě
Matyáš Havrda
Tomáš, člen party na Jižním Městě
Václav Svoboda (4)
Petr, člen party na Jižním Městě
Lucie Vojtěchová
Jarka, Honzova kamarádka z nemocnice
Lucie Juřičková
pionýrská skupinová vedoucí Věra
Dana Horčicová
heavymetalová matka batolete
Miroslav Leitermann
heavymetalový mladík František
Jitka Prokopová
heavymetalová dívka Anděla
Lucie Bílá
ona sama, zpěvačka
Yvona Kindermannová
Monika Chlupáčková, Mirkova kamarádka
Alena Kryštofková
Chlupáčková, matka Moniky
Kateřina Cajthamlová
lékařka MUDr. Sovová
Karel Brožek
redaktor Heine
Anna Wetlinská
ona sama, hlasatelka
Milan Klacek
docent Závora
Viola Zinková
přepadená důchodkyně
František Šikl
Havlík
Elena Strupková
učitelka Jansová
Hana Pastejříková
ředitelka školy
Jiří Lír
důchodce s holí
Gabriela Buřičová
Simona
Barbora Šímová
Sašena
Vlastimil Čaněk
školník Hažinský
Patrik Vojtíšek
Zdeněk
Martin Růžička
Richard
Aleš Prosek
Luděk
Vojtěch Smíšek
Martin
Gabriela Opalecká
Libunda
Lucie Vostracká
Amálka
Vilém Koňa
Pichlík
Otakar Brousek ml.
nadporučík VB
Radek Ulrich
Lukáš
Aleš Křen
metalista
Karel Dufek
malý metalista
Jiří Hlinka
Máťa
Ladislav Županič
otec kluka se šlapacím autem
Jiří Valšuba
Vácha
Naděžda Prchalová
učitelka Hornofová
František Stupka
cyklista
Josef Vaidiš
mladý muž
Václav Stýblo
řidič Landa
Jiří Kalenský
řidič
Pavel Myslík
řidič
Luděk Adámek
hudebník
Miloš Doležal
hudebník
Pavel Hejč
hudebník
Václav Pokorný (4)
hudebník
Vlastimila Vlková
Ondrova babička
Miroslava Ambrožová
Petr Drozda
pořadatel
Karel Engel
pořadatel
Jindřich Sejk
pořadatel
František Stupka
pořadatel
Karel Charvát
zápasník
Jindřich Klaus
zápasník
Dimo Lipitkovský
zápasník
Ivan Mareš
zápasník
Jaroslav Tomsa
zápasník
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Continuity
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Jan Hodný, Karel Kočí, František Struska
Costume Designer
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Jan Peterka, Lev Veltrubský
Unit Production Manager
Eduard Zanner
Consultant
MUDr. Helena Budlovská, Josef Novotný
Cooperation
Jana Paparčíková (klapka), Miloslav Mirvald (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Martin Kratochvíl, skupina Vitacit
Songs
Úder
Song Composer Martin Kratochvíl
Writer of Lyrics Josef Novotný
Singer skupina Vitacit
Peaceman
Song Composer Miloš Doležal
Writer of Lyrics Josef Novotný
Singer skupina Vitacit
Já chci se ptát těch králů
Song Composer Luděk AdámekMiloš Doležal
Writer of Lyrics Miloš Doležal
Singer skupina Vitacit
Hořící svíčka
Song Composer Luděk AdámekMiloš Doležal
Writer of Lyrics Josef Novotný
Singer Lucie Bíláskupina Vitacit
Mat na tři
Song Composer Miloš Doležal
Writer of Lyrics Josef Novotný
Singer skupina Vitacit
Zkáza měst
Song Composer Miloš Doležal
Writer of Lyrics Josef NovotnýMiloš Doležal
Singer skupina Vitacit
Trápení
Song Composer Miloš Doležal
Writer of Lyrics Josef NovotnýMiloš Doležal
Singer skupina VitacitLucie Bílá
Bez prodlení
Song Composer Miloš Doležal
Writer of Lyrics Josef Novotný
Singer skupina VitacitLucie Bílá
Okno mé lásky
Song Composer Petr Janda
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Rytíř
Singer Petr Janda
Paralet
Song Composer tradicionálMichal Ambrož /úprava/
Writer of Lyrics Michal Ambrož
Singer Roman FišerJiří PetrMatyáš HavrdaVáclav Svoboda (4)
Je to past
Song Composer Jiří Hradec
Writer of Lyrics Petra Černocká
Singer Lucie Bílá
Production info
Original Title
Horká kaše
Czech Title
Horká kaše
English Title
A Hot Problem
Working Title
Jak se kreslí nula
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1988
Production Year
1987—1988
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 17 June 1987
technical Screenplay approved 20 October 1987
start of filming 16 November 1987
end of filming 27 January 1988
the first film copy approved 1 June 1988
projection approval 3 June 1988
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1992
Premiere
premiere 1 January 1989 /unsuitable 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
83 min
Original length in metres
2 367 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66, 1:2,35
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: 1. mezinárodní festival filmů a televizních pořadů pro děti a mládež Naberežnyje Čelny
1990
Naberežnyje Čelny / Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Vítěz
Festival: 27. festival českých a slovenských filmů Mladá Boleslav
1989
Mladá Boleslav / Czechoslovakia
Miloš Cajthaml
Vítěz
Festival: 27. festival českých a slovenských filmů Mladá Boleslav
1989
Mladá Boleslav / Czechoslovakia
Radovan Urban
