At the start of the 1990s, Miloš Zábranský was able to explore new creative horizons as a Czech cinema director. Stavení (Home, 1990) is far more similar to the director’s previous cryptic, abstract science-fiction film Masseba (1989) than his earlier modest drama Dům pro dva (House for Two, 1987). Dividing critics upon its release, the story, written by Pavel Hajný, relates the experiences of young Petr (Zdeněk Dolanský), who suffers from recurring visions of a mysterious house. The film’s protagonist eventually embarks on a mission to find this house, perceived as a symbol of faith to which he would like to devote himself. In a fashion similar to House for Two, Home too contains strong Christian symbolism. Petr’s spiritual journey also takes him to some exotic locations (Nepal, Egypt). Petr’s wise and elderly guide is played by Josef Kemr.
It is early morning and a young man and his young wife are in bed in their village villa. The woman is asleep but the man is thinking. An old man appears at the window, saying something, but the young man does not hear him. The young woman, Eva, wakes up and asks her husband Petr if he is still thinking about the cottage which keeps reappearing in his fantasies. Petr affirms and then sets off to the country to find the mysterious house. On his search, he finds himself in Egypt and Nepal and feels kinship with the life in both the distant time and country. It seems to him that he lives in several dimensions - in the past as well as the present. Eva's parents are not content with their son-in-law. He swans around like he is deranged, does not answer any questions and moreover does not earn enough. A farm appears several times before Petr - and it may be the searched-for cottage. Petr wanders through the abandoned and ruined rooms. Eva follows him and falls through the floor to a cellar where she is attacked by a bird. Petr cannot hear her calls for help and Eva is saved by the old man. The young man finds an old and wrapped up Bible and when he finally finds Eva, he gives it to her. Eva confesses her love for him and Petr carries her out of the cottage to a backyard. Here, the old man again puts up a cross with the crucifix. Petr helps him and the old man talks about a human journey. Man must gain knowledge and knowledge is as mysterious as a cottage where one can either get lost or settle down in wealth. Faith is just the beginning. The cross, bathed in rays of light, suggests that Petr has indeed found his faith. Moraltto: And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).
Petr
Voice by Eliška Sirová
Eva
stařec
ovčák
Evina matka
Evin otec
Jan Klíma, Bohumil Kadlec, Martin Tlamicha
Bohdan Kysil, Miloš Matula
Martin Zaradička, Danuše Vrbová, Markéta Hájková
Renata Janovová (klapka), Vladislav Knapp (fotograf), JZD Červenka, JZD Středohor, Ivan Andrle, Ivo Brumar, expedice Tatra kolem světa
FISYO (Music Conducted by Mario Klemens), Svatoignácký sbor (Music Conducted by Jan Blabla)
Stavení
Stavení
Home
Rogallo
film
featuretheatrical distribution
allegory
Czechoslovakia
1990
1990
premiere 5 October 1991 /unsuitable for youths/
2. tvůrčí skupina, Josef Císař (vedoucí 2. tvůrčí skupiny)
feature film
77 min
2 200 meters
35mm
1:2,35
colour
sound
Dolby Stereo
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech