František Vláčil did not direct his first feature film until 1960 at the age of 36. But as soon as the poetic Holubice (The White Dove) was released it put Vláčil’s name on the Czechoslovak and international cinema map as an artist with a strong aesthetic vision, elegant visual style, and an almost architectural approach to storytelling. A postal dove gets lost on the way from northern France to Germany. The bird serves as a vehicle for changes in the life of Prague lad Michal, confined to a wheelchair following an accident. Graphic artist Martin (Václav Irmanov) both observes and assists Michal’s physical and spiritual recovery. The message of empathy and friendship between nations personified by children is underscored by the character of young girl Susanne, who, thanks to Martin’s pictures, manages to eventually track down her missing dove. Michal is portrayed by future successful film director Karel Smyczek.
Hundreds of carrier pigeons are released for long-distance flights in the north of France. On Fehmarn Island in the Baltic sea a group of old sailors and twelve year old Susanne are waiting for the return of their pigeons. But the girl's white dove doesn't come back, the storm has carried it all the way to Central Europe. In a studio in the centre of Prague, painter Martin catches sight of her. The tired bird is presently shot with an air-gun by Michal, a young boy in a wheelchair. A while ago, he became paralysed after a fall from a height. However, his disability is more of a psychological one. Martin brings him the wounded dove. Michal tries to heal the bird. In the meantime, Susanne is still waiting sadly. Michal gets an idea to heat the bird with a sun-ray lamp and stands up and makes a few steps to get it from the shelf. At a pigeon exhibition, Martin finds out from a public notice board where the bird has come from. He paints her picture and sends it to Germany. Both the dove and Michal are getting better. Martin carefully persuades Michal to let the dove go. The white bird flies north. Susanne understands that her dove is coming back to her, and is running along the sea shore with the picture in her hand.
Susanne Kleistová
Michal
Michalova matka
malíř Martin
Kohoutí stařík
Ulli, Susannin bratr
starý pán
Pierre
francouzský dělník
dvojče
dvojče
Anna Lackovičová, Pavel Kopta
Otakar Kirchner (Susanne – povídka)
Theodor Pištěk ml., Jan Koblasa (plastika na břehu moře)
Ladislav Winkelhöfer, Jan Petrů
Jiří Nekola, František Štěpánek, Jiří Ulrich
František Belfín (FISYO), Karel Krautgartner (Orchestr Karla Krautgartnera)
Holubice
The White Dove
Bílá holubice
film
feature
film-poem
Czechoslovakia
1960
1960
4 November 1960
Hanuš – Pavlíček, Ladislav Hanuš, Oldřich Pavlíček
long
73 min
Czech
Festival: Mezinárodní filmový festival Cartagena
1962
Cartagena / Colombia
Festival: 5. mezinárodní festival dokumentárních a experimentálních filmů Montevideo
1962
Montevideo / Uruguay
Festival: 3. mezinárodní filmové setkání Prades
1961
Prades / France
Festival: Mezinárodní setkání filmů pro mládež Cannes
1961
Cannes / France
Festival: 2. filmový festival Versailles
1961
Versailles / France
Festival: 21. mezinárodní filmový festival Benátky
1960
Benátky / Italy
Jan Čuřík
Festival: 21. mezinárodní filmový festival Benátky
1960
Benátky / Italy
František Vláčil