Once Upon a Time in a Kingdom
Category
filmGenre
étudeTypology
featuretheatrical distributionstudent filmshortOriginal title
Bylo nebylo v jednom královstvíCzech title
Bylo nebylo v jednom královstvíEnglish title
Once Upon a Time in a KingdomSummary
The mutiny of the prisoners against the unhuman methods used by the director of prison.
Synopsis
Lots of men are squashed in the cell of an American prison. The bald Billy cannot sleep; he is horrified to death at the thought of the things to come. He silently wakes up a friend who recollects how little it takes the sadistic prison director to take a prisoner outside the building and kill him. Billy has already won his disfavour when he interrupted his yelling at the line up by playing harmonica. The worries are justified. The director makes him muster and Billy disappears for ever. His friend lets his co-prisoners know about it after the reveille by playing Billy’s melody on an imaginary harmonica. Some of them join him after a while by imitating other musical instruments. The smooth director shaves and is captivated at the sight of a bloodstain from his slightly cut face on his hand. The strain of the prisoners culminates in their demolishing the modest furnishings. The guards call for the director who crushes the rebellion. Only Billy’s friend keeps playing the “harmonica”, the others do not dare any more. It is clear now who is going to be the next target of the director’s cruel revenge.
Photos
Cast
Bořivoj Navrátil
vězeň Billy Landman
Jiří Kodeš
ředitel věznice
David Matásek
vězeň Frank, Billyho kamarád
Jan Jílek
vězeň
Tomáš Juřička
vězeň
Filip Novák
vězeň
Zdeněk Pecháček
vězeň
Miloslav Uhlíř
vězeň
Milan Klacek
starší vězeň
Daniel Landa
potetovaný vězeň
Leon William N'Gatse
černý vězeň
Crew and creators
Director
Screenstory
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Set Designer
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Helena Plačková
Unit Production Manager
Markéta Sedláčková
Pedagogical management
Jaromil Jireš (režie), Karel Smyczek, Jan Kališ (kamera), Josef Císař, Josef Valušiak (střih), Vladimír Skall (zvuk)
Cooperation
Michal Beroun, Ivan Doležal, Miloš Kabyl, Jana Mašíková, Zdeněk Němec
Music
Music Composed by
Production info
Original Title
Bylo nebylo v jednom království
Czech Title
Bylo nebylo v jednom království
English Title
Once Upon a Time in a Kingdom
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distributionstudent film
Genre
étude
Student film
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1992
Production Year
1992
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Technical info
Duration typology
short film
Duration in minutes
10 min
Original length in metres
282 meters
Distribution carrier
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
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 3. festival FAMU Praha
1993
Praha / Czech Republic
Jan Velický
Vítěz
Festival: 3. festival FAMU Praha
1993
Praha / Czech Republic
Vasilis Skalenakis
