Vojtěch, Called Orphan

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1989

Production year

1989

Premiere

1 October 1990

Runtime

80 min

Director

Zdeněk Tyc

Category

film

Genre

ballad

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionstudent filmlong

Original title

Vojtěch, řečený sirotek

Czech title

Vojtěch, řečený sirotek

English title

Vojtěch, Called Orphan

Summary

The inevitability of transformation in the “regime change” year of 1989 was not only affirmed by the Velvet Revolution; confirmation also came from this black-and-white, ballad-like feature which marked the debut of three gifted students at Prague’s FAMU film school. These were director Zdeněk Tyc, script editor and screenwriter Jiří Soukup, and cameraman Jaromír Kačer. They take equal shares of the credit for creating such a movie. However, the conception of what was initially a student project was also influenced by script editor Ivan Arsenjev. Vojtěch, řečený sirotek (Vojtěch, Called Orphan) expressed a desire to return to the artistic and moral imperatives of the Czechoslovak New Wave; at the same time, it convincingly demonstrated the creative potential of a new generation that had not been allowed to succeed under the censorship of socialist cinematography. In the following years, it turned out that the “free” post-revolution era would be characterised by commercial considerations that would subordinate artistic films to the reality of the demand for large audiences and revenue. However, in the following decades, the creators of Vojtěch, zvaný sirotek remained – each in his own way, more or less – true to their ideals…. In their deeply inward manner, the creators returned to the poetics of the 1960s. Their story celebrates the natural but ultimately also self-destructive individual rebellion against the established order, whether embodied in representatives of the official judicial system or thieves – poachers. Vojtěch adheres to basic human values without regard to any system; however, he is unable to cope with the norms of society. The insecure hero experiences harmony only when in contact with nature. Still, he perceives socialisation as a necessity, at least while deciding between two women – the mature widow Blaženka and the young, sickly student Anežka. Yet the story of the freethinking loner can scarcely end in anything but tragedy. Petr Froman plays the leading role in this original feature, which enchanted audiences with its captivating visuals.

Synopsis

1946: Vojtěch, who killed an innocent man out of drunkeness and foolishness with his friend Lojza and took the blame on himself, is released from prison and enjoys the newly acquired freedom. He sets off to his favourite land of ponds and, on his wanderings, relishes the countryside, the meadows, the rain… Stranger: The man enters a village pub and unfortunately wittnesses the arrival of Lojza who is unpleasantly surprised by Vojtěch's return. They get drunk together. Vojtěch then breaks into the farmstead of the widow named Blažena. The woman is stern with him at first but then reconciles with him and the two eventually become lovers. Vojtěch meets Anežka who recovered from a severe illness and wants to recuperate in the countryside. The young man dares to kiss her. He receives the work of a water bailiff from an administrator. Spindlelegs (Poachers): The happy Vojtěch drives around his domain in a boat and his heart cannot be softened when asked to participate in the poachers' thefts. But his intransigence only earns him animosity from the locals. Three Women (At a Farm): Vojtěch enjoys his happy moments with Blažena but is increasingly attracted to Anežka. He even tells her about his and Lojza's crime. He is visited by his sister Marie. She once dated Lojza who, however, married another woman. Marie vainly tries to convince her brother to leave with her. Vojtěch is confused by his emotions towards the two women and almost violates Anežka in a barn. Gall: The poachers escalate their provocations. Vojtěch leaves Blažena as well as his work where he gives an immediate notice. Anežka: Vojtěch and Anežka meet in a meadow. They become lovers and spend a fascinating night together. But the poachers' hostility never sleeps. They drain the water from the pond and catch the fish in nets. When Vojtěch stands up against them, Choura, Venca and Lojza drown him. The water surface conceals a crime and two lonesome women vainly wait for happiness to come.

Cast

Petr Forman

Vojtěch

Barbora Lukešová

Anežka, Vojtova milá

Jana Dolanská

vdova Blažena

Vlastimil Zavřel

Lojza Horák

Jiří Hálek

správce statku

Břetislav Rychlík

pytlák Venca

Jaroslav Mareš

Juz, bývalý hlídač rybníka

Miroslav Zelenka

Josef Choura

Petr Popelka

pytlák Žluva

Eva Holubová

Marie, Vojtova sestra

Radim Špaček

kluk se žábami

Viola Zinková

hostinská Matějů

Jan Váša

Voice by Jan Sedliský
děda Vytlačil

Marie Štichová

pradlena

V. Ludvíková

pradlena

L. Hošnová

pradlena

Vl. Štefl

listonoš

Karel Lexa

Marie Kocarová

Vladimír Hajna

Jana Tycová

dubl za Janu Dolanskou

Crew and creators

Director

Zdeněk Tyc

Second Unit Director

Jiří Soukup

Assistant Director

Ivan Arsenjev, Milan Tomsa, Klára Stránská

Based on

Jevhen Hucalo (Ivan – povídka)

Shooting Script

Zdeněk Tyc

Director of Photography

Jaromír Kačer

Camera Operator

Marek Jícha, Asen Šopov

Production Designer

Oldřich Bosák

Make-Up Artist

Věra Podpěrová

Film Editor

Boris Machytka

Sound Designer

Josef Hubka, Jiří Lenoch, Jiří Křivka (záznam kontaktního zvuku)

Pedagogical management

Jiří Brožek (střih), Jiří Moudrý (zvuk), Jaroslav Balík (režie), Jiří Macháně (kamera), Čestmír Církva (střih), Jan Kališ (kamera), Petr Prokop (kamera), Vladimír Bor

Cooperation

Jana Školoutová (klapka), Zuzana Kačerová (fotografka), Pavel Dobrovský, Marek Hart, Michal Holubec, Alena Hradcová, Jiří Jakl, Miloš Kabyl, Miroslav Korbel, Dušan Kovář, Ondřej Kubíček, Štěpán Kučera, Jakub Mejdřický, Miroslav Milosavljević, Daniel Němec, Alena Nosková, Robert Novák, Vladimír Omasta, Tomáš Petráň, Martin Polanský, Michal Reitler, Daniel Rouha, Emil Sirotek ml.

Music

Music Composed by

Martin Smolka

Selected Music

Miloslav Kabeláč (Mysterium času), Miloslav Kabeláč (Zrcadlení), Miloslav Kabeláč (IV. symfonie)

Music Performed by

Studiový orchestr

Songs

Škoda lásky

Song Composer Jaromír Vejvoda

Čeho nabyl občan pilný /parodie rakouské hymny Zachovej nám, Hospodine/

Singer Vlastimil Zavřel

S pánem bohem /Neublížil jsem žádnému/

Singer Břetislav Rychlík

Když jsme táhli k Jaroměři

Hospůdko, hospůdko malá

Production info

Original Title

Vojtěch, řečený sirotek

Czech Title

Vojtěch, řečený sirotek

English Title

Vojtěch, Called Orphan

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionstudent film

Genre

ballad

Student film

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1989

Production Year

1989

Production specifications

start of filming 26 September 1988
end of filming 31 March 1989
the first film copy approved 24 November 1989
projection approval 27 December 1989
withdrawal from distribution 31 July 1993

Premiere

premiere 1 October 1990 /unsuitable for youths/
renewed premiere 13 January 2005 /recommended for 15 and over/

Distribution slogan

A student film. (1990) / Project 100 – 2005. (2005)

Distribution

Ústřední půjčovna filmů (původní 1990), Asociace českých filmových klubů (obnovená 2005 /Projekt 100 – 2005/)

Creative Group

Tvůrčí skupina Profil, Karel Czaban (vedoucí tvůrčí skupiny Profil)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

80 min

Original length in metres

2 252 meters

Distribution carrier

35mm

Aspect ratio

1:2,35

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech

Awards

Vítěz

Event: Anketa časopisu Kinorevue

1993
Praha / Czech Republic

Vítěz

Festival: 3. mezinárodní festival debutujících filmových autorů Angers

1991
Angers / France

Vítěz

Event: Československá nominace na Cenu americké Akademie filmových věd a umění Oscar 1990

1990
Praha / Czechoslovakia

Vítěz

Event: 5. Fórum mladého filmu Bratislava

1990
Bratislava / Czechoslovakia