Railwaymen

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1963

Production year

1963

Runtime

14 min

Director

Evald Schorm

Category

film

Genre

essay

Typology

documentarytheatrical distributionshort

Original title

Železničáři

Czech title

Železničáři

English title

Railwaymen

Summary

Evald Schorm's first colour film follows the work of railwaymen and how they live on the railway. The rhythm of the film and its individual parts are adequate to the rhythm of work at the railway station. The camera does not avoid the sudden expressive changes in shot sizes or dynamics to emphasize the precision and difficulty of human labour in mechanical tasks. The stern voice of the commentator Richard Honzovič provides basic technical information, while short shots zoom in on the activities of individual professions in detail. Music and images poeticize moments of relaxation and convivial conversation. The sequence of the train ride is complemented by a short reflection on the passage of time on the railway and the constant journey forward. It is a poem by Evald Schorm, Tvůj čas, performed by actress Dana Medřická. The reportorial view is merged with elements of inquiry, the austere documentary and civil style is enlivened with elements of film experiment and lyrical poeticization through colour and music. A riveting montage rhythm accurately measures the viewer's emotions and leads them to a proper unique experience of this specific working environment.

Synopsis

"It's all iron and wires here, well, and that's what we live in between." The documentary captures a day in the life of railroad workers – drivers, conductors, switchmen, train dispatchers, and many others. Their job is to make sure that the goods are unloaded and received on time. The turnaround time of a wagon from loading to the next loading must not be longer than four days. A heavy-load train, which can have up to seventy wagons, rushes along the line with its massive load. The eyes of the railwayman are fixed on the track and on his watch. Every single train of them is announced in advance, known everywhere along the line, and wherever the train is, it must pass on the green light. It must not stop. It is a matter of honour for all the railroaders that it passes on time and can keep going on schedule. Day or night, trains pass through fields, woods, stations. The signal clears the way. Whether it's fog, rain, or sunshine, or whether it's light or dark, day or night. Railwaymen consider the rails their true home. They spend a lot of time here, often also after the working hours. Sitting around the fire and smoking cigarettes together in the evening is an opportunity to share the experience of riding the line.

Film online

Performed by

Crew and creators

Director

Evald Schorm

Screenstory

Evald Schorm

Screenplay

Evald Schorm

Commentary by

Evald Schorm

Director of Photography

Jan Špáta

Film Editor

Josef Pejsar

Sound Designer

Antonín Kleisner

Production Manager

Máša Charouzdová

Music

Music Composed by

Jan Klusák

Locations

Most, Nymburk, Praha, Smíchov (Praha)

Production info

Original Title

Železničáři

Czech Title

Železničáři

English Title

Railwaymen

Category

film

Typology

documentarytheatrical distribution

Genre

essay

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1963

Production Year

1963

Production specifications

projection approval 4 February 1963

Premiere

premiere 1963 /suitable for youths/

Distribution slogan

no caption

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Technical info

Duration typology

short film

Duration in minutes

14 min

Original length in metres

397 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

Awards

Vítěz

Exhibition: 5. dny krátkého filmu Karlovy Vary

1964
Karlovy Vary / Czechoslovakia
Evald Schorm

Vítěz

Festival: 14. mezinárodní festival dokumentárních filmů Benátky

1963
Benátky / Italy