Those Few Days...
Country
Czechoslovakia, FranceCopyright
1968Production year
1968Premiere
24 October 1969Runtime
80 minDirector
Yves CiampiCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Těch několik dnů...Czech title
Těch několik dnů...English title
Those Few Days...Parallel title
A quelques jours près...Working title
O pár dnů dřív / O pár dnů...Summary
Born of a collaboration between Czech and French filmmakers, this feature film was severally affected by the dramatic changes in the political situation that occurred before and after the Warsaw Pact invasion of August 1968. The crushing of the Prague Spring political liberation meant Yves Ciampi’s film was in Czechoslovakia only to a limited extent in cinemas outside of Prague. The protagonist of Těch několik dnů… (1968) is Frenchwoman Francoise, who experiences a love affair while studying sociology in Prague. Francoise had married shortly before she left for her studies, but she tries to break the bonds with her French partner. The love triangle, however, is affected by the political turmoil of 1968 and emotional alienation… The leading parts in the film – which offers an interesting insight into its contemporary era – are portrayed by Thalie Frugés and Vít Olmer.
Synopsis
It is the last day of 1968. Young Parisienne Françoise toasts her reflection in a mirror. Sitting alone, she returns to Prague in her memories. As a student of sociology, she received a scholarship to work on her dissertation in East European countries. She arrived in Prague at the beginning of November 1967. On the very first day, she met young handsome Professor Pavel Kučera, who lectured in French literature at the Philosophical Faculty. From the first moment, the two people felt very close to each other and finally fell in love. However, just before her departure for Prague, Françoise had married Jean-Louis in France. She left to see him on Christmas to ask for a divorce. Although their marriage was not very serious, the husband does not want to give up his wife. When the young woman returns to Prague, her relationship begins to be influenced by the political activities of the Prague Spring, with Pavel being one of the main actors of the students' protests. Françoise, too, used to be a devoted activist of similar riots some time ago in Paris, but everything ended in disillusionment for her. Pavel does not have enough time for her and they gradually cease to understand each other. Jean-Louis eventually calls her and agrees to the divorce. Although Françoise still loves Pavel, she refuses to give up her newly acquired freedom. She leaves Prague in June 1968, aware that she would never return to him.
Note
The French première of the film was held on the 30th of April 1969.
Photos
Cast
Thalie Fruges
Voice by Alena Kreuzmannová
francouzská studentka Françoise Darmon
Philippe Baronnet
Jean-Louis, manžel Françoise
Jana Šulcová
studentka Vladěna Bosáková
Josef Čáp
student Stašek Klika
Vít Olmer
profesor dr. Pavel Kučera
Jiří Ornest
student Kotas
Petr Svojtka
student Kotalík
Ladislav Janský
student Honza
Aloys Rwaka
medik Aloys Mofeba
Jiří Plachý
student Jiří
Lenka Termerová
studentka Ivana
Hana Brejchová
studentka Květa
Radúz Chmelík
profesor Háj
Helena Růžičková
uklízečka na koleji
Kamila Moučková
hlasatelka v televizi
Michel Ducrocq
Philippe
Valérie Vienne
Maite
Daniele Garnier
Virginie
Pascal Fardoulis
starší student
Jean-Pierre Marichal
Gruber
Jiřina Bílá
průvodčí
Alena Balejová
nahá dívka
Jiří Cimický
člen zkušební komise
Karel Kratochvíl (2)
člen zkušební komise
Stanislav Litera
člen zkušební komise
Vladimír Navrátil
člen zkušební komise
Josef Dziedzic
cikánský houslista
Zdeněk Grygárek
profesor
František Hájek
profesor
Jar. Kalivoda
profesor
Bohumil Křížek
profesor
Václav Soldát
profesor
Václav Vodák
profesor
Václav Halama
prodavač párků
Karel Hovorka
prodírající se pán
Robert Morávek
vrátný
Eduard Pavlíček
děkan
Pavel Pavlovský
student
Dimitrij Rafalský
student
Jaroslav Toms
strážmistr VB
Antonín Pražák
taxikář
Jacques Sternberg
spisovatel
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Zdena Pavlátová
Assistant Director
Jaroslav Toms, Pascale Breugnot, Claude Sambain
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Karel Lukáš, Jacques Preisach, Dana Vaňková, Václav Zavřel
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Rudolf Hammer, Chantal Godaert, Ivana Mesteková, Marie Machová
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Jean Guillaume, Ctibor Jeřábek, Vladislav Špidra, Jaroslav Vágner
Cooperation
Eva Truchlá (klapka), Josef Janoušek (fotograf), Karel Ješátko (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)
Songs
Anča, kráva, vidle, jak se to rýmuje
Singer sbor
Krásná růže v sadu kvetla
Song Composer lidová francouzská píseň
Writer of Lyrics Jiří Tichota
Singer Spiritual kvintet
Chtěl bych jednou holku mít, záleží to na osudu
Singer Petr SvojtkaJiří Ornest
Kuril machorku
Singer sbor
Zrcadlo
Singer skupina Olympic
Stůj, občane!
Song Composer Karel Černoch
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Žák
Singer Karel Černoch
Gdě eta ulica
Singer sbor
Production info
Original Title
Těch několik dnů...
Czech Title
Těch několik dnů...
English Title
Those Few Days...
Parallel Title
A quelques jours près...
Working Title
O pár dnů dřív / O pár dnů...
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia, France
Copyright
1968
Production Year
1968
Production specifications
the first film copy approved 27 December 1968
projection approval 11 June 1969
withdrawal from distribution 1972
Premiere
premiere abroad 30 April 1969 (Paříž, Francie)
premiere 24 October 1969 /unsuitable for youths/ (omezená distribuce)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Tvůrčí skupina Šmída – Fikar, Ladislav Fikar (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Bohumil Šmída (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
80 min
Original length in metres
2 256 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech, French
Subtitles languages
Czech
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
