Anthony’s Chance

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1986

Production year

1985—1986

Premiere

1 November 1986

Runtime

76 min

Director

Vít Olmer

Category

film

Genre

drama, psychological

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Antonyho šance

Czech title

Antonyho šance

English title

Anthony’s Chance

Summary

In 1986, director Vít Olmer created a highly popular yet uncompromising depiction of the gloomy realities of the “normalisation” era. Young widower Antony (Antonín Paleček) is the protagonist of this psychological drama with social undertones. After suffering the tragic death of his first wife, he is pursuing the dream of a happy family life with his new spouse Marta, but it is all in vain... He is resolved to be a good father to his little daughter and he aspires to lead an honest life – but those around him, including Marta, have no understanding at all for his endeavours. The down-to-earth narrative, delivered in a special, dynamic visual style, was an opportunity for the lesser known actor Luboš Veselý – usually seen on stage – to excel in the lead role. Veronika Jeníková, who played the part of Marta, took on an almost antithetical role a year later when starring as prostitute T-Shirt Eve in Olmer’s tragicomedy about racketeers pulling scams with foreign currencies, Bony a klid (Big Money).

Synopsis

Anthony's wife died in a car accident. The car was being driven by Anthony, but it was not his fault. He has a nervous breakdown after the tragedy and ends up in a mental hospital. His little daughter Bára meanwhile stays with the Zachars, parents of Anthony's late wife. The Zachars keep blaming him for killing their daughter. After his return from the therapy, Anthony wants to take care of the daughter himself – but he needs a woman to help. In Náchod, he meets a textile worker, Marta. He spends a night with her and proposes to her the next day. Although surprised, Marta accepts. They leave together for Prague and get married. After the marriage, however, Marta finds out that Anthony solely wanted a child minder for his daughter. She wants to leave, but eventually stays and begins to take care of Bára. Anthony works as an unskilled labourer at a goods station. The family constantly has a thin time, but Anthony refuses any help from the Zachars and he also refuses to take part in robbing the wagons. Marta hates their poverty-stricken life and leaves Anthony. Her friend Irena mentions that she could make a fortune on spending a night with a Western foreigner from time to time, but Marta cannot. The railways investigate the robberies. Sidekicks Mirek a Pako try to kill Anthony for fear that he might disclose them, but Anthony fortunately escapes the fight with only a hurt leg. The Zachars again tend to Bára during his treatment. Marta finds herself a job and returns to Anthony and Bára.

Film online

Cast

Luboš Veselý

Antonín Paleček zvaný Antony

Veronika Jeníková

Marta Šilhavá

Barbora Straková

Bára, Antonyho dcera

Jana Švandová

barmanka Irena

Milada Ježková

sousedka Valoušková

Karel Brožek

Zachar, Antonyho tchán

Valentina Thielová

Zacharová, Antonyho tchyně

František Švihlík

Mirek, šéf skladníků

Václav Knop

JUDr. Osten

Ivona Krajčovičová

prostitutka Květa

Franta Kocourek

skladník Pako

Jan Hraběta

skladník Bandaska

Ladislav Gerendáš

skladník Drezína

Viktor Nejedlý

vrátný Kobes

Jiří Bartoška

on sám, herec

Boca Abrhámová

Voice by Marcela Martínková
ředitelka mateřské školky

Zdeněk David

kamarádíček

Taťána Puttová

paní na hlídání

Jana Altmannová

pokladní v sámošce

Šizejasu Fudžijoši

Irenin soused, cizinec

Tošiko Fudžijoši

sousedova manželka

Miloslav Kopečný

muž s kravatou

Ladislav Lahoda

kudrnáč/člen výjezdové hlídky VB

Jaroslav Tomsa

kolotočář/člen výjezdové hlídky VB

Josef Vaculík

předseda poroty

Gabriela Wilhelmová

prodavačka v drogerii

Jana Šedová

prodavačka v drogerii

Petr Weig

Němec

Jaroslav Someš

vrchní v restauraci

Vladimír Švabík

železničář

Markéta Sodomková

porotkyně

Jaroslav Vavřík

náborový pracovník

Věra Laňková

vrátná v ubytovně

Josef Prihara

diskžokej

Antonín Mikulka

klavírista

Jan Mikšík

skladník s fretkou

Jan Lorenc

asistent

Monika Vedrová

lyžařka

Zdena Lukášová

svačinářka

Martina Menšíková

spolubydlící v natáčkách

Petr Gottlieb

vekslák v baru

Ľudovít Baláž

dirigent

Pavol Baláž

hudebník

Andrej Baláž

hudebník

Viliam Karvay

hudebník

Josef Pokluda

hudebník

Emil Taragoš

hudebník

Crew and creators

Director

Vít Olmer

Second Unit Director

Jan Křížek

Assistant Director

Petr Slabý, Dalibor Fiksa, Magda Vodičková

Screenstory

Rudolf Ráž

Shooting Script

Vít Olmer, Ota Kopřiva

Director of Photography

Ota Kopřiva

Production Designer

Ludvík Široký

Assistent Production Designer

Jaroslav Řeřicha

Set Designer

Ivan Břešťák, Ivo Černý, Ladislav Rada, František Struska

Costume Designer

Ivana Šislerová

Assistant Film Editor

Květa Švábová

Sound Designer

Jiří Moudrý

Production Manager

Jiří Beránek

Unit Production Manager

Vlasta Synkulová, Eva Kulhánková

Unit Production Manager

Rudolf Jelínek

Cooperation

Alice Ronovská (klapka), Miroslav Jirsa (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Jiří Stivín

Music Performed by

Jiří Stivín, Collegium Quodlibet (Music Conducted by Jiří Stivín)

Songs

Zvonky štěstí

Song Composer Jiří Zmožek
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Rytíř
Singer Karel GottDara Rolins

Když mě brali za vojáka

Song Composer Jaromír Nohavica

Sejdeme se u Rotta

Song Composer Jiří KalešMilan Dufek
Writer of Lyrics Milan Dufek
Singer Rangers

Pozri

Song Composer Miro Žbirka
Writer of Lyrics Miro Žbirka
Singer Miro Žbirka

Múr našich lások

Song Composer Miro Žbirka
Writer of Lyrics Kamil Peteraj
Singer Miro Žbirka

Zajíček v své jamce

Singer dětský sbor

Production info

Original Title

Antonyho šance

Czech Title

Antonyho šance

English Title

Anthony’s Chance

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama, psychological

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1986

Production Year

1985—1986

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 18 September 1985
start of filming 21 October 1985
technical Screenplay approved 4 November 1985
end of filming 9 April 1986
projection approval 16 May 1986

Premiere

premiere 1 November 1986 /unsuitable for youths/

Creative Group

6. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina Tvůrčí mládí, Jan Vild (vedoucí 6. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny Tvůrčí mládí)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

76 min

Original length in metres

2 162 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

Festival: 25. festival českých a slovenských filmů Bratislava

1987
Bratislava / Czechoslovakia
Ota Kopřiva

Vítěz

Event: 15. koszalinské filmové setkání Mládež a film Koszalin

1987
Koszalin / Poland

Vítěz

Festival: 25. festival českých a slovenských filmů Bratislava

1987
Bratislava / Czechoslovakia
Rudolf Ráž