Why?

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1987

Production year

1986—1987

Premiere

1 October 1987

Runtime

86 min

Category

film

Genre

drama

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Proč?

Czech title

Proč?

English title

Why?

Summary

In the early 1980s, director Karel Smyczek, working with screenwriters Radek John and Ivo Pelant, made some remarkably successful motion pictures centred on adolescent heroes. Thanks to the critical tone and realistic sociological scope pursued by these films, they very much outdid the contemporary, optimistic tales being put out about teenagers at the time. Following the films Jen si tak trochu písknout (Just to Whistle a Bit, 1980), Jako zajíci (Like Rabbits, 1981) a Sněženky a machři (Snowdrops and Daredevils, 1982), Smyczek in 1987 shot the drama Proč? (Why?). Based on a screenplay written by the journalist and columnist John, the film is inspired by true events. The story follows a group of young Sparta Prague football fans who, en route to an away match in Bánská Bystřice, demolish a railcar, threaten other passengers and even try to throw a protesting Slovak conductress out of the window. The role of alcohol, and mutual goading with opposition fans, go so far that even railway station workers are afraid of standing up to the hooligans. Finally, in Bánská Bystrica, the police intervene... At the time of its release, the realistically portrayed film sparked lively debate. Even today Proč? amounts to an unadorned, convincing testimony presenting afflictions of the 1980s generation – young people without motivation or faith in the future, youngsters indeed who had been dispossessed of their aspirations by the socialist state. For the hooligans in the film, the venting of aggression has becomes a way to attract attention. The morally devastated protagonists end up on trial, but they and their parents refuse to take their share of responsibility for what has happened... Director Smyczek, together with cameraman Jaroslav Brabec, made the film in a documentary style, shooting in the cramped atmosphere of a real railway wagon. Several actors who would later achieve fame and success played adolescent fans (Jiří Langmajer, Martin Dejdar and Jan Potměšil). The directors Igor Chaun and Petr Vachler also feature in the film, in side roles. Emília Zimková performed the part of the conductress, while Smyczek himself stepped forward to play the part of the reporter who, at the conclusion of Proč?, asks random passersby for their views on the affair.

Synopsis

At a regional court, the trial is beginning of some young people who had demolished several passenger carriages on the way to Banská Bystrica where the football club Sparta was playing for the title. Most of the rowdies come from broken families and they all support their football players fanatically. Among others, those on the train were Josef Šurovský, Milan Sýkora, the married Vlasta Chlupáč, the father of a little kid, stepbrothers Jiří and Michal Stupkas, the teenage girl Marie Šmídová and Petr Chalupa. Jiří was joined by his girlfriend Anča at the Prague Main Railway Station. The flag bearers are drunk and aggresive already and commit various disorders. A Slovak female guard on the train is terrified by these passengers. The high-spirited fans begin attacking other passengers and start demolishing the carriage at night. Šurovský, helped by others, tries to throw the guard from the train window. They terrorize a student and his girlfriend, almost violating her. The railway personnel at the train's stops are unable to do anything or help the guard in any way. In the morning, all the rowdies are exhaustedly drunk. They are caught by the police and the Armed Railway Guards in Banská Bystrica. Only Pavel - one of the most active rowdies - manages to escape. The parents of the accused rioters respond differently to the misdeeds of their children. The defendants boast in a pub. The court delivers its verdicts: imprisonments from six to eighteen months. Only Michal gets off with a conditional sentence due to his low age. A journalist on the street interviews pedestrians, asking them for their opinion on the case. One of the interviews is interrupted by a march of flag bearers some whom have their faces covered by scarfs. The anonymous crowd hurtles down the street, chanting: What's up! What's up!

Film online

Cast

Jiří Langmajer

Jiří Stupka

Martin Sobotka

Michal, Jiřího bratr

Pavel Zvarič

Petr Chalupa

Pavlína Mourková

Marie Šmídová

Jan Potměšil

Milan Sýkora

Daniel Větrovský

Vlastimil Chlupáč zvaný Vlasta

Daniel Landa

grázl Pavel

Markéta Zmožková

servírka Anča Bečvářová

Martin Dejdar

Josef Šurovský zvaný Šury

Emília Zimková

průvodčí

Karel Pospíšil

vyšetřovatel

Adolf Kohuth

Stupka, Michalův otec

Eva Lecchiová

Stupková, Michalova matka

Emma Černá

Mariina matka

Vladislava Macháčková

Monika Pastejříková

Gabriela Wilhelmová

Moničina matka

Zdeněk Pecháček

student Láďa

Kateřina Fejlková

studentka Hanka

David Schneider

Jan Suchánek zvaný Suchoš

Jan Vlasák

Milanův otec

Zdeněk Dušek

hospodský Standa, Ančin otec

Alena Štréblová

Vlastova žena

Radek John

novinář s magnetofonem

Karel Smyczek

reportér

Jan Kraus

opilý fanoušek

Ladislav Brothánek

mistr v továrně

Milan Vágner

přítel Mariiny matky

Marie Durnová

prokurátorka

Josef Carda

fanoušek Patka

Roman Holý

fanoušek

Tomáš Karger

fanoušek Trubka

Marek Tomažič

fanoušek Cyril

Christian Thuri

fanoušek Kucmocht

Eva Řepíková

matka na chodbě soudu

Miriam Kantorková

matka Šuryho

Igor Smržík

příslušník OOŽ

Michal Suchánek

opilý fanoušek s trubkou

Michal Kaizr

fanoušek zvaný Bysta

Daniel Malaniuk

fanoušek

Miroslav Grác

chodec

P. Martinec

chodec

P. Hejný

chodec

Jaroslava Keslová

chodkyně

Radoslav Bartoník

chodec s aktovkou

Bohumil Koška

starší průvodčí

Václav Matějka

funkcionář Sparty

Miloslav Mejzlík

funkcionář Sparty

Zdeněk Mlčoch

příslušník Ozbrojené ochrany železnic

Vladimír Kudla

příslušník VB

Igor Chaun

svědek u soudu

Petr Vachler

fanoušek Douda zvaný Dako

Miloslav Štibich

cestující Karel

Vlasta Mecnarowská

Karlova manželka

Oldřich Navrátil

muž v hospodě

Petr Němec

fanoušek Palička

Bořík Procházka

zahradník, Mariin mistr

Viktor Nejedlý

starší cestující, fanoušek Slávie

Boris Halmi

výpravčí

Valentina Thielová

starší žena v okně

Martina Samková

dlouhovlasá dívka

Rudolf Stärz

cestující

Josef Šebek

příslušník OOŽ

V. Hošek

rozhodčí

P. Pelíšek

rozhodčí

Václav Hrůza

pořadatel

Jiří Smutný

pořadatel

Zdeněk Tomeš

muž v anketě

J. Kočí

muž v anketě

Pavel Vangeli

muž v anketě

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Miloš Kohout

Assistant Director

Alice Ronovská, Zbyněk Honzík

Screenstory

Radek John

Shooting Script

Radek John, Karel Smyczek

Director of Photography

Jaroslav Brabec

Second Unit Photography

Ladislav Chroust

Camera Operator

Milan Kopecký

Production Designer

Boris Halmi

Assistent Production Designer

Milan Pecák

Set Designer

Jaroslav Česal, Petr Průša, Marek Šíma

Costume Designer

Petr Kolínský

Film Editor

Jan Svoboda

Assistant Film Editor

Anna Mejtská

Sound Designer

Vojtěch Voráček

Stunts

Arnošt Böhm, Pavel Cajzl, Jan Dufek, Petr Floss, David Hroník, Jiří Kraus, Jiří Kalenský, Jiří Káňa, Petr Komínek, Dimo Lipitkovský, Ladislav Lahoda, Ivan Mareš, P. Suchý, T. Souler, Jaroslav Tomsa

Production Manager

Karel Škop

Unit Production Manager

Vlasta Synkulová, Juraj Zach

Unit Production Manager

Petr Moravec

Consultant

JUDr. Dušan Veselý , JUDr. Antonín Těšík, Adolf Henn

Cooperation

Dana Sahánková (klapka), Josef Řezáč (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Michal Pavlíček

Music Performed by

Michal Pavlíček, FISYO

Songs

Čí je Praha? Naše! /parafráze My Spartu nedáme/

Song Composer Karel Hašler
Writer of Lyrics Karel Hašler
Singer Daniel VětrovskýPavel ZvaričDaniel Landa

Production info

Original Title

Proč?

Czech Title

Proč?

English Title

Why?

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1987

Production Year

1986—1987

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 18 August 1986
start of filming 15 September 1986
technical Screenplay approved 3 October 1986
end of filming 30 April 1987
projection approval 29 May 1987

Premiere

premiere 1 October 1987 /unsuitable for youths/

Creative Group

5. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina, Miloslav Vydra (vedoucí 5. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

86 min

Original length in metres

2 460 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: 4. festival českých a slovenských filmů FINÁLE Plzeň

1990
Plzeň / Czechoslovakia

Vítěz

Event: Prémie Českého literárního fondu

1988
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Pavla Frýdlová

Vítěz

Festival: 26. festival českých a slovenských filmů Brno

1988
Brno / Czechoslovakia

Vítěz

Festival: 43. mezinárodní festival sportovních filmů Turín

1988
Turín / Italy

Vítěz

Event: Prémie Českého literárního fondu

1988
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Radek John

Vítěz

Event: Ceny Svazu československých dramatických umělců

1988
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jaroslav Brabec

Vítěz

Festival: 21. filmový festival mladých Trutnov

1988
Trutnov / Czechoslovakia
Radek John

Vítěz

Event: 17. ročník čtenářské ankety týdeníku Květy ve spolupráci s Československou televizí a Ústřední půjčovnou filmů

1988
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jiří Langmajer

Vítěz

Festival: 26. festival českých a slovenských filmů Brno

1988
Brno / Czechoslovakia