Adapted by director Otakar Vávra from a classic 1877 historical novel by Alois Jirásek, this film serves as a prelude to Vávra’s later classic “Hussite trilogy” (Jan Hus, Jan Žižka and Proti všem [Against Everybody]) made between 1954–56. A 1937 effort, Filosofská historie was also sensitively adapted for the screen by Vávra. Set in the revolutionary year of 1848, a rebellious mood is in the air in the student community in the old city of Litomyšl. Ignoring a ban issued by Austrian Chancellor Klemens von Metternich, the students organise a maypole festival, resulting in severe reprimands. But asides from being fired up by politics, the tenants at the home of spinster maid Elis – Frýbort (Jan Pivec), Vavřena (Ladislav Boháč), Špína (Vladimír Hlavatý) and Zelenka (Stanislav Neumann) – also deal with issues closer to the heart. While barricades in Prague are erected in protest against Austrian absolutism, the hopes of our heroes are gradually dashed. The film carries a patriotic tone that is evident in many of Vávra’s works.
Miss Elis has in her lodgings students from Litomyšl: the philosophers Frýbort, Vavřena, Špína, and Zelenka. The aggressive Frýbort and the quiet Špína are in love with Márinka, the daughter of landlady Krupková. Špína is unable to make clear his feelings for Márinka and he suffers from her lack of interest. Vavřena is in love with Lenka, the ward of Actuary Roubínek. But the Roubíneks would rather see him give his preference to their daughter Lotty. By order of Metternich, the philosopher's May Festival is cancelled as a purely Czech festival. But the students celebrate the festival anyway with the participation of the whole town. The tenants of Miss Elis are subjected to school detention as punishment. Špína, unsuccessful in his final exams and in his relationship with Márinka, leaves to the Prague monastery The Brothers of Mercy. The year 1848 brings through the establishment of a constitution new life even to tranquil Litomyšl. Frýbort and Vavřena become officers of the student's legion which sets off to assist Prague tevolting against Austrian absolutism. On the barricades opposing the Windischgrätz units is even Špína, as a priest. After the defeat of the revolution Frýbort and Vavřena flee for home. Špína, however, falls in the battle. After a time the students return to Litomyšl. Frýbort proposes to Márinka and Vavřena becomes engaged to Lenka.
The première outside Prague was held already on the 22nd of September 1937 in Litomyšl. The film was presented at the 6th Venice Film Festival, 1938.
filozof Václav Frýbort
filozof Vavřena
filozof Špína
filozof Zelenka
bytná studentů slečna Elis
aktuár Roubínek
Roubínkova manželka Tereza
Lotty, dcera Roubínkových
Lenka, neteř Roubínkových
paní domácí Krupková
Márinka, dcera Krupkové
Rollerová, bývalá purkmistrová
policajt Koníček
katecheta
student
student
student
školník Mouček
domácí učitel Brož
Frýbortův otec
hrabě Georg
profesor
profesor
profesor
profesor
profesor
rakouský důstojník
bojovnice na barikádě
člen městské gardy
zákaznice u řezníka
zákaznice u řezníka
Alois Jirásek (Filosofská historie – novela)
Jan Branberger (úprava)
Bedřich Smetana (Pochod studentských legií)
Václav Smetáček (Orchestr F.O.K.)
Když jsem svou Márinku, Píseň společná, Gaudeamus igitur, Jarní, Již zlaté sluníčko zašlo, Jak se ten měsíček za lesíkem bělá, Studentská píseň
Jan Branberger (Když jsem svou Márinku), František Škroup (Píseň společná), Josef Vašák (Jarní), Václav Rosenkranc (Již zlaté sluníčko zašlo), Jan Branberger (Studentská píseň)
Václav Hanka (Když jsem svou Márinku), Karel Havlíček Borovský (Píseň společná), František Ladislav Čelakovský (Jarní), J. G. Marek (Již zlaté sluníčko zašlo)
Jan Pivec (Když jsem svou Márinku), Jan Pivec (Píseň společná), mužský sbor (Píseň společná), sbor (Gaudeamus igitur), dětský sbor (Jarní), Jan Pivec (Již zlaté sluníčko zašlo), mužský sbor (Již zlaté sluníčko zašlo), Elena Hálková (Jak se ten měsíček za lesíkem bělá), sbor (Studentská píseň)
Filosofská historie
A Philosophical Story
film
feature
drama
Czechoslovakia
1937
1937
5 November 1937
long
91 min
Czech
Event: Odměny ministra průmyslu, obchodu a živností
1937
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Event: Ceny ministra průmyslu, obchodu a živností
1937
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Otakar Vávra