Frána Šrámek's lyrical novel involving the first amorous confusions of a small-town teenager was shot by director Václav Krška in 1954 as a stylishly precise work that sidestepped the oppressive atmosphere of the time. The idealistic Jeník Ratkin is struggling with his narrow-minded father whom he sees as embodying the incomprehensible, hypocritical world of adults. Anička, who is "obsessed" but unable to break free from her dependence on conformist notions, plays the leading role in Jeník’s world of bittersweet experiences of first love... Krška cast his favourite actor, Eduard Cupák (who was then 22 years old) in the main role. He had appeared in the biopics Mladá léta (Early Days), about the nascent writer Alois Jirásek, and Z mého života (From My Life) about Antonín Dvořák. He also starred in another Šrámek opus – Měsíc nad řekou (Moon over the River) in which he played the sensitive student Vilík Roškot.
Second half of the 19th century. In a small town in South Bohemia, fifth-former Jan Ratkin is living through the confusions of first love together with his classmates. The perceptive boy has undisturbed dreams and ideas about life. He is finding it difficult to bear the narrow-mindedness and hypocrisy of the adults' world and often faces a lack of understanding and anger. He burns with pure love for "crazy" Anička but she only plays with him. He is taken by the mature beauty of Helena from the travelling theatrical company and he lets himself be seduced by the embittered widow Haurová. He spends holidays at home with his sick mother and a sullen father in an atmosphere of bitterness. The only moment of happiness is the visit of uncle Jiří who once was in love with his mother. After the end of holidays, Jan goes back to town. He is once again happy with Anička for a few short moments but she prefers a well-off pharmacist. The crude religion teacher catches sight of Jan and his friend Zach in the local brothel. Zach is expelled from school while Jan is saved by teacher Ramler. News about uncle Jiří's suicide give the boy great pain. But Jan's youth is medicine against all maladies. He finally meets with Anička and with a gift of a marguerite bids farewell to the foolishness of his young days. From that moment on, the silver breeze of youth and love begins to seem to him like an omen of a new, freer future.
student Jan Ratkin
soudní Rudolf Ratkin, Janův otec
Jarmila, Janova matka
strýc Jiří, Rudolfův bratr
profesor Ramler
katecheta
Anička Karasová
student Franta Valenta
student Hugo Staněk
Majer, Janův přítel
Vika, Janův přítel
student Karel Zach
nadporučík Gerlič
bytná
muž bytné
vdova Haurová
herečka Helena
Staňkova matka
služka Eliška
prostitutka Anděla
prostitutka Lorča
milostpaní
Ema, Majerova pražská sestřenice
Kamilka, Helenina dcera
Helenin muž
Ernestina
lékárník
Růžena Wildmanová
důstojník Kerth
pradlena
student Berger
kadet
důstojník
poručík Stefan
ředitel gymnázia
student Malkus
slečna berních
potulný zpěvák
student
Stázka
student
student Semerák
světlovlasý student
důstojník u Staňků
žena v okně
Fráňa Šrámek (Stříbrný vítr – román)
Jiří Rulík, Ladislav Winkelhöfer
Jindřich Panáček (fotograf)
Singer Jiřina Šejbalová
Singer Elemir Saszy
Stříbrný vítr
Stříbrný vítr
Silvery Wind
film
featuretheatrical distribution
drama
Czechoslovakia
1954
1953—1954
start of filming 22 February 1953
the first film copy approved 4 February 1954
projection approval 30 December 1954 (neschváleno do distribuce)
projection approval 17 November 1956
withdrawal from distribution 30 June 1990
premiere 30 November 1956 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Metro /9 týdnů/, Praha)
feature film
106 min
3 014 meters
16mm, 35mm
1:1,37
colour
sound
mono
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech