A cinéma verité film inquiry made by Evald Schorm to find out the causes of the low birth rate in Czechoslovakia. It authentically captures the spontaneous reactions of the interviewees as well as the general mood in the moment and living conditions, especially for young people. Thanks to answers to questions the people of Prague are given in the streets, workplaces or homes, the film reveals several reasons for the declining number of new births and the increasing number of abortions. In this way the film highlights the problems of housing shortages at the time, low wages, overworked mothers, and the lack of pre-school facilities that made it difficult to start large families.
Couples of young newlyweds walk out of the Old Town Hall in Prague. When asked by a reporter how many children they want to have, they optimistically answer that they want two, three or four. This is contradicted by figures on the decline in the birth rate in Czechoslovakia. So why don't people have children, the reporter asks in the streets, in shops, workplaces, kindergartens and retirement homes. Answers vary, some believe it is because of the selfishness and comfort, others blame a shortage of housing, female employment, low salaries for men, or the low capacity of pre-school facilities. In one overcrowded apartment, seven relatives live in two rooms. Busy morning for a young mother of two whose working day lasts eighteen hours. The situation of the couple who have just had a baby is complicated. The wife, however, must start working to pay off the apartment. Immature couples who have married because of an unplanned pregnancy apply for divorce in court. The members of the abortion committee and the gynaecologist performing the abortions give the reasons that make women to have an abortion. Women who want children but cannot have them because of health reasons also testify. The reporter continues to interview newlyweds. The young people are convinced that they will overcome any obstacles without any problems.
reportér
JUDr. Jiří Prokopec, MUDr. Zdeněk Najmr, MUDr. Stanislav Franz
Praha
Proč?
Proč?
Why?
Sebevrazi
film
documentarytheatrical distribution
inquiry
Czechoslovakia
1964
1964
projection approval 2 April 1964
premiere 1964 /suitable for youths/
no caption
short film
28 min
815 meters
16mm, 35mm
1:1,37
black & white
sound
mono
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech
Event: Umělecká soutěž k 20. výročí osvobození Československa
1965
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Evald Schorm
Exhibition: 2. setkání krátkého filmu s pražskými pracujícími
1964
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Exhibition: 5. dny krátkého filmu Karlovy Vary
1964
Karlovy Vary / Czechoslovakia
Evald Schorm
Event: Ceny primátora hlavního města Prahy
1964
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Event: Ceny Trilobit 1963
1964
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jan Špáta
Exhibition: 2. setkání krátkého filmu s pražskými pracujícími
1964
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Event: Ceny Trilobit 1963
1964
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Evald Schorm
