Vojtěch, Called Orphan
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1989Production year
1989Premiere
1 October 1990Runtime
80 minDirector
Zdeněk TycCategory
filmGenre
balladTypology
featuretheatrical distributionstudent filmlongOriginal title
Vojtěch, řečený sirotekCzech title
Vojtěch, řečený sirotekEnglish title
Vojtěch, Called OrphanSummary
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 Blaena. The woman is stern with him at first but then reconciles with him and the two eventually become lovers. Vojtěch meets Aneka 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 Blaena but is increasingly attracted to Aneka. 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 Aneka in a barn. Gall: The poachers escalate their provocations. Vojtěch leaves Blaena as well as his work where he gives an immediate notice. Aneka: Vojtěch and Aneka 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.
Photos
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
Bohuslav Ličman
hostinský
Jan Váša
Voice by Jan Sedliský
děda Vytlačil
Danuše Ondráčková
pradlena
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
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Ivan Arsenjev, Milan Tomsa, Klára Stránská
Screenstory
Based on
Jevhen Hucalo (Ivan – povídka)
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Josef Hubka, Jiří Lenoch, Jiří Křivka (záznam kontaktního zvuku)
Production Manager
Romana Prachařová, David Bonaventura, Vladimír Dvořák, Jana Mašíková, Jiří Synek, Lenka Jandová, Jaroslav Koucký
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
Selected Music
Miloslav Kabeláč (Mysterium času), Miloslav Kabeláč (Zrcadlení), Miloslav Kabeláč (IV. symfonie)
Music Performed by
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)
Production
With support
Státní fond České republiky pro podporu a rozvoj české kinematografie (obnovená distribuce 2005), Ministerstvo kultury České republiky (obnovená distribuce 2005)
Copyright Holders
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
