A Story from ’88

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1989

Production year

1988

Premiere

1 October 1989

Runtime

88 min

Category

film

Genre

psychological

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Příběh ’88

Czech title

Příběh ’88

English title

A Story from ’88

Working title

No, a to je ten příběh / Jenom ty

Summary

For her directing debut, Zuzana Hojdová opted for an intimate relationship drama, co-authoring the screenplay with Olga Hanzlíková. At the heart of the story is fashion designer Anna who feels neglected by her husband, stage designer Honza. Meanwhile, at work she does not experience much by way of self-fulfilment. It comes as little surprise that she finds short-term comfort in an affair with Honza’s younger colleague, Pavel. However, when she gets pregnant Anna is faced by the dilemma of whether to keep the child despite her not knowing who the father is… Adding appeal to this ordinary woman’s story are the professions of the protagonists and a strong cast, particularly when it comes to Jana Krausová in the main role. The husband is played by Jan Kraus while František Staněk is the seducer. Supporting roles in this film, which forfeits social context in favour of a very close drama setting, are taken by Eva Holubová, Jiřina Jirásková and Vlastimil Brodský.

Synopsis

The scenographer Honza is consumed by his work on a new theatre drama and neglects his wife Anna. Anna feels lonesome and also has troubles at work. She cannot realize her interesting fashion designs while the enterprise only accepts her ordinary models. Honza's younger colleague, Pavel, takes advantage of her situation. He first invites Anna for coffee, then for walks and finally for making love. Anna finds herself pregnant. She wants to tell Pavel but he is not interested. He lives with another woman and Anna was just a temporary adventure for him. Anna longed for motherhood because she had given birth to a dead child several years ago. Now, she does not know whether the child is Pavel's or Honza's. She finally visits her gynaecologist. She confirms the pregnancy but is surprised by Anna's embarrassment and uncertainty. She thus warns her that she will never have a child again if she chooses to have an abortion. Anna decides to tell Honza everything. He does not want to discuss it; it seems that he grasps the situation. But he apparently does not want to break up with Anna.

Cast

Jana Krausová

oděvní návrhářka Anna Valentová

Jan Kraus

scénograf Honza, Annin muž

František Staněk

Voice by Michal Dlouhý
kulisák Pavel

Pavlína Mourková

Eva, Pavlova přítelkyně

Eva Holubová

Helena, Annina přítelkyně

Vlastimil Brodský

Annin otec Antonín

Michal Suchánek

kulisák Suchoš

Jaroslava Adamová

gynekoložka MUDr. Králová

Simona Stašová

Jitka, Annina přítelkyně

František Husák

ředitel Tomáš Vedral

Jiřina Jirásková

Zdena Tichá, vedoucí ÚBOK

Bohumil Švarc ml.

Petříček, Helenin syn

Marek Vašut

muž v metru

Nina Jiránková

Musilová, členka komise

Jiří D. Novotný

Pitrák, člen komise

Michaela Bartáková

manekýna Iva

Jana Altmannová

Klapková, členka komise

Rudolf Danda

vrátný

Jimmy Bunzl

děda

Pavel Haněk

číšník

Jitka Hoferková

Tereza

Štěpán Exner

otec novorozeněte

Jaroslav Sypal

elektrikář

Karolina Soukupová

holčička

Michaela Srbová

Naďa

Jiří Ostrý

Petříčkův otec

Josef Kubíček

muž z výroby

Jan Foll

muž na večírku

Tamara Bernášková

manekýnka

Iveta Mühlfeitová

manekýnka

Daniela Zábršová

manekýnka

Michaela Gebertová

manekýnka

Marie Štefková

manekýnka

Michaela Srbová

manekýnka

členové Slávie – družstvo odbíjené

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Renata Čihulková, Jan Menšík

Assistant Director

Jarmila Čajová

Director of Photography

Petr Hojda

Second Unit Photography

Karel Hejsek

Camera Operator

Václav Zajíček

Production Designer

Ludvík Široký

Assistent Production Designer

Štěpán Exner

Art Director

Miroslav Dopita (divadelní scény), Jindřich Smetana (divadelní scény)

Set Designer

Jaroslav Česal, Petr Průša, Ivan Břešák, Marek Šíma

Costume Designer

Evženie Rážová

Film Editor

Jan Svoboda

Assistant Film Editor

Anna Mejtská

Sound Designer

Jiří Hora

Production Manager

Václav Eisenhamer

Unit Production Manager

Zdeňka Černá, Hana Štefanová

Unit Production Manager

Vít Horálek, Ladislava Kašáková

Cooperation

Irena Strachová (klapka), Jaromír Komárek (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Pavel Richter

Music Performed by

Pavel Richter

Songs

I am screening on

Song Composer Ondřej Soukup
Writer of Lyrics Miloš Skalka
Singer Petra Janů

Možno sa ti zdá

Song Composer Miro Žbirka
Writer of Lyrics Miro Žbirka
Singer Miro Žbirka

Production info

Original Title

Příběh ’88

Czech Title

Příběh ’88

English Title

A Story from ’88

Working Title

No, a to je ten příběh / Jenom ty

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

psychological

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1989

Production Year

1988

Production specifications

start of filming 19 April 1988
end of filming 28 July 1988
the first film copy approved 14 April 1989
projection approval 6 May 1989
withdrawal from distribution 31 July 1993

Premiere

premiere 1 October 1989 /unsuitable for youths/

Creative Group

6. tvůrčí skupina, Jan Vild (vedoucí 6. tvůrčí skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

88 min

Original length in metres

2 528 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