In 1955, Czechoslovakia grants amnesty for those who emigrated to the West after the War. Many of them are already returning but the solitary Mrs Kociánová still waits in vain for her only son Pavel. Despite her protests, the authorities move a lodger into her flat, Tomáš Stach, a maintenance man. Anna Kociánová does her best to keep Jana Vávrová, Pavel's fiancée, hoping that Pavel will return. The young teacher visits Pavel's mother out of compassion but her affection for the son is a thing of the past. She had been surprised to find out how little she knew Pavel when he never came to say goodbye to her. Kociánová tries to enquire about Pavel among those who have returned, but to no avail. In the meantime, Jana falls in love with Tomáš Stach. One evening, an unknown man visits Anna Kociánová. He introduces himself as Jonáš and claims that Pavel, whom he knows, is returning soon. Then he leaves for Prague, allegedly to obtain his documents. Janík, one of the returning émigrés finds Mrs Kociánová's story about Jonáš suspicious. Soon after, an open package arrives from Germany and it so happens that Stach is there to collect it. He is afraid to give it to the unfortunate mother, as it contains things left after Pavel's tragic death. As a precaution, Janík accompanies Mrs Kociánová when she goes to meet Jonáš. He recognizes the man as the agent Just, but the villain shoots him dead on the street that evening. Surrounded by the police, Just kills himself. Stach tells the broken-hearted Mrs Kociánová about her son's death.
The original play by František Pavlíček was first staged under the title The Black Flag; later on, the author revised and renamed it Labyrinth of the Heart.
Anna Kociánová
montér Tomáš Stach
učitelka ve školce Jana Vávrová
zedník Janík, navrátilec z emigrace
prodavačka Marta Kavalírová
listonoš Probošt
agent Just alias Vilém Jonáš
Janin otec
Janina matka
Tomášova kamarádka
Tomášův kamarád Honza
referent bytového úřadu
malíř pokojů
muž obtěžující Janu
Martínek
Martínkova matka
úředník
domovník
zpěvačka v kavárně
vedoucí Pramenu
zedník
navrátilec z emigrace
starý muž na noční ulici
listonoš
Janin známý
žena na noční ulici
Dagmar Nováková, René Mattes
František Pavlíček (Labyrint srdce – divadelní hra)
Libor Speychal, Václav Štědronský
Ladislav Vandůrek
Jana Riegelová, Miroslav Pešan (fotograf)
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín)
Song Composer Zdeněk Liška
Writer of Lyrics Marie Žahourková
Singer Stanislava Seimlová [dab]
Song Composer Zdeněk Liška
Writer of Lyrics Marie Žahourková
Singer ženský hlas
Singer Jiří Vašíček
Song Composer lidová píseň
Writer of Lyrics lidová píseň
Singer dětský sbor
Labyrint srdce
Labyrint srdce
Labyrinth of the Heart
film
featuretheatrical distribution
drama
Czechoslovakia
1961
1961
literary Screenplay approved 21 September 1960
start of filming 12 April 1961
technical Screenplay approved 17 May 1961
end of filming 11 August 1961
projection approval 7 November 1961
withdrawal from distribution 30 November 1975
premiere 19 January 1962 /suitable for youths/ (kina Alfa /3 týdny/, Svornost /1 týden/ a Veletrhy /1 týden od 2. 2./, Praha)
premiere 19 January 1962 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)
Tvůrčí skupina Feix – Brož, Miloš Brož (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Karel Feix (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)
feature film
88 min
2 493 meters
16mm, 35mm
1:2,35
black & white
sound
mono
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech
Festival: 4. festival českých a slovenských filmů Košice
1962
Košice / Czechoslovakia
Marie Vášová
Festival: 4. festival českých a slovenských filmů Košice
1962
Košice / Czechoslovakia
Event: Státní ceny za rok 1961
1962
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Marie Vášová