Grandpa, Kylian and I

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1966

Production year

1966

Premiere

7 April 1967

Runtime

88 min

Category

film

Genre

children

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Dědeček, Kyliján a já

Czech title

Dědeček, Kyliján a já

English title

Grandpa, Kylian and I

Summary

The contrast between the big city and the disappearing, idyllic countryside is emphasised by Jiří Hanibal’s family film from 1966. At the time, in the mid-1960s, the 37-year-old director was one of those successful filmmakers who made two works independently of the spark provided by the Czechoslovak New Wave. Both then and later, he added a number of other films to his account whose protagonists were children (Malé letní blues [Little Summer Blues, 1967], Údolí krásných žab [The Valley of Beautiful Frogs, 1973], Anna, sestra Jany [Anna, Jana’s Sister, 1975], Neohlížej se, jde za námi kůň! [Don’t Look Round, a Horse Follows Us!, 1979], and Útěk s Cézarem [Escaping with Cézar, 1989]). The film was inspired by a novella from the writer Jan Ryska, who collaborated with the director on the screenplay for this story intended primarily for children. The protagonist is 5-year-old Jožánek Karpíšek, whose doctor parents (Jiřina Jirásková, Zdeněk Ornest) depart for two months on a business trip abroad. They entrust their son to their neighbour Ms Pokorná (Slávka Budínová), but she proves unable to look after the mischievous boy. Jožánek thus decides to spend the summer with his beloved grandfather in the countryside. The small boy’s escape from the city to the summer tranquillity of a village is successful, but in the heart of nature Jožánek also encounters the unavoidable changes that are happening in the good old world. His grandpa’s job as a ferryman is becoming redundant, because a new bridge has been built across the river. Nonetheless, Jožánek decides that an old folks’ home is not the place for the old man or his loyal donkey. In an idealistic finale, he finds a new home in the city for his grandfather and his animals… Seven-year-old David Schneider made his debut in this light, summer comedy. He next appeared in another of Hanibal’s films, Červená kůlna (Red Shed, 1968). Grandpa Karpíšek was played by the popular Rudolf Deyl Jr. His acting career ended a year later when he died before his time at just 55 years of age.

Synopsis

The Karpíšek married couple, both doctors, are leaving for London for two months on business. They entrust their five-year old son Jožánek to the care of their neighbour, Mrs Pokorná. Jožánek is not pleased with the arrangement. He would rather wait for his parents at the house of his grandfather, a ferryman in Kralovice. On the following day after his parents' departure, the boy runs away to join his grandfather. His journey proves more difficult than he had imagined, but with the help of kind people he finally succeeds. The grandfather is a little angry with the boy but lets him stay. After that, Jožánek enjoys wonderful days: he catches fish with his grandfather, learns how to swim, sails on the barge and the donkey Kylian takes both of them to town shopping. But the boy also learns about a problem that worries his grandfather. A new bridge has been built across the river, people no longer need a ferryman, and grandfather must leave his cottage to move into an old people's home. Jožánek feels sorry for his grandfather and wants him to move his cottage to another place along the river and then move in with them in Prague when the summer is over. His grandson's words encourage the old man to act. He cancels his application at the old people's home and, together with his friends, pulls down his home to build a summer cottage from the materials. He moves to his son's villa in Prague, and in the garden house there is even enough space for the donkey Kylian.

Film online

Cast

David Schneider

Jožánek Karpíšek

Rudolf Deyl ml.

děda Karpíšek

František Vicena

bagrista Vítek

Josef Větrovec

řidič Barták

Zdeněk Ornest

doc. MUDr. Karel Karpíšek, Jožánkův otec

Jiřina Jirásková

MUDr. Karpíšková, Jožánkova matka

Josef Hlinomaz

poštmistr

Táňa Václavová

Hanička, dcera paní Pokorné

Karel Pavlík

průvodčí tramvaje

Vladimír Navrátil

Patera, majitel poníků

D. Materna

tramp

P. Mašek

tramp

pes Rolf

pes Sultán

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Ota Koval

Assistant Director

Karel Kovář

Based on

Jan Ryska (Jožánek – novela)

Shooting Script

Jiří Hanibal

Director of Photography

Josef Vaniš

Camera Operator

Bohumil Vodička

Production Designer

Milan Nejedlý

Assistent Production Designer

Jiří Hlupý

Costume Designer

Jan Kropáček

Film Editor

Zdeněk Stehlík

Sound Designer

Miloš Alster

Special Effects

Trikový ateliér FSB

Production Manager

Petr Čapek

Unit Production Manager

Jindřich Dvořák, Dana Dudová

Unit Production Manager

Martin Baroch

Cooperation

Jana Cunderlová (klapka), Antonín Stránský (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Evžen Illín

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín), Milan Zelenka /kytara/

Songs

Rodné údolí

Singer Jana ČihákováD. MaternaP. Mašek

Já na vojnu se dal

Song Composer lidová starofrancouzská píseň
Writer of Lyrics Hanuš Jelínek
Singer Rudolf Deyl ml.

Production info

Original Title

Dědeček, Kyliján a já

Czech Title

Dědeček, Kyliján a já

English Title

Grandpa, Kylian and I

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

children

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1966

Production Year

1966

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 2 May 1966
technical Screenplay approved 2 June 1966
start of filming 12 July 1966
end of filming 26 October 1966
projection approval 20 December 1966

Premiere

premiere 7 April 1967 /suitable for youths/ (kina Hvězda /1 týden/ a Klub /2 týdny/, Praha)
premiere 7 April 1967 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)

Studio

Barrandov

Creative Group

Tvůrčí skupina Švabík – Procházka, Jan Procházka (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Erich Švabík (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

88 min

Original length in metres

2 492 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

black & white

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech

Awards

Vítěz

Exhibition: 3. mezinárodní přehlídka filmů pro děti a mládež Rimini

1968
Rimini / Italy

Vítěz

Festival: 2. mezinárodní festival filmů pro děti a mládež Gottwaldov

1967
Zlín / Czechoslovakia
David Schneider

Vítěz

Exhibition: 19. přehídka filmů pro děti a mládež Benátky

1967
Benátky / Italy

Vítěz

Festival: 5. mezinárodní festival filmů pro děti Gijón

1967
Gijón / Spain

Vítěz

Exhibition: 19. přehídka filmů pro děti a mládež Benátky

1967
Benátky / Italy

Vítěz

Festival: 2. mezinárodní festival filmů pro děti a mládež Gottwaldov

1967
Zlín / Czechoslovakia

Vítěz

Festival: 5. mezinárodní festival filmů pro děti Gijón

1967
Gijón / Spain

Vítěz

Event: Odměna vedení Československého filmu za nejúspěšnější film roku 1966

1967
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jiří Hanibal

Vítěz

Festival: 5. mezinárodní festival filmů pro děti Gijón

1967
Gijón / Spain

Vítěz

Event: Odměna vedení Československého filmu za nejúspěšnější film roku 1966

1967
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jan Ryska