Silvery Wind

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1954

Production year

1953—1954

Premiere

30 November 1956

Runtime

106 min

Category

film

Genre

drama

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Stříbrný vítr

Czech title

Stříbrný vítr

English title

Silvery Wind

Summary

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.

Synopsis

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.

Cast

Eduard Cupák

student Jan Ratkin

František Šlégr

soudní Rudolf Ratkin, Janův otec

Marie Brožová

Jarmila, Janova matka

Radovan Lukavský

strýc Jiří, Rudolfův bratr

Vladimír Ráž

profesor Ramler

Jana Rybářová

Anička Karasová

Josef Vinklář

student Franta Valenta

Oldřich Slavík

student Hugo Staněk

Jaroslav Wagner

Majer, Janův přítel

Ilja Racek

Vika, Janův přítel

Otto Lackovič

student Karel Zach

Miloš Kopecký

nadporučík Gerlič

Viktor Očásek

muž bytné

Jiřina Šejbalová

herečka Helena

Nelly Gaierová

Staňkova matka

Zuzana Kočová

služka Eliška

Blanka Waleská

prostitutka Anděla

Ludmila Vendlová

prostitutka Lorča

Zdeňka Baldová

milostpaní

Eva Marie Kavanová

Ema, Majerova pražská sestřenice

Václava Austová

Kamilka, Helenina dcera

Ladislav Gzela

Helenin muž

Valentin Knor

lékárník

Dagmar Kofroňová

Růžena Wildmanová

Raoul Schránil

důstojník Kerth

Václav Stýblo

student Berger

Zdeněk Borovec

důstojník

Jan Víšek

poručík Stefan

Rudolf Walter

ředitel gymnázia

Otakar Zych

student Malkus

Libuše Matějová

slečna berních

Elemir Saszy

potulný zpěvák

Zdeněk Duss

student Semerák

Josef Henke

světlovlasý student

Miloš Forman

důstojník u Staňků

Commentary

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Jaroslav Beránek

Based on

Fráňa Šrámek (Stříbrný vítr – román)

Screenplay

Václav Krška

Director of Photography

Ferdinand Pečenka

Production Designer

Karel Škvor

Assistent Production Designer

Luděk Škuta

Set Designer

Jiří Rulík, Ladislav Winkelhöfer

Costume Designer

Fernand Vácha

Film Editor

Jan Kohout

Production Manager

František Sandr

Unit Production Manager

Václav Rouha

Cooperation

Jindřich Panáček (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Jiří Srnka

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by Milivoj Uzelac)

Choreographer

Emerich Gabzdyl

Songs

Slečna Mína, slečna Berta

Singer Jiřina Šejbalová

Italská milostná píseň

Singer Elemir Saszy

Ta naše hospoda

Louka široká

Zdálo se mně, má panenko

Production info

Original Title

Stříbrný vítr

Czech Title

Stříbrný vítr

English Title

Silvery Wind

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

drama

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1954

Production Year

1953—1954

Production specifications

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

premiere 30 November 1956 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Metro /9 týdnů/, Praha)

Copyright Holders

Národní filmový archiv

Studio

Barrandov

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

106 min

Original length in metres

3 014 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