Captain Korda

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1970

Production year

1969—1970

Premiere

27 November 1970

Runtime

87 min

Category

film

Genre

children

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Kapitán Korda

Czech title

Kapitán Korda

English title

Captain Korda

Summary

Films aimed at children usually avoid serious issues or else present them in an idealised or unrealistic way. An exception to this tendency is Kapitán Korda (Captain Korda, 1970) written by screenwriter Milan Šimek and directed by Josef Pinkava. The poetic narrative tells the story of little Pepík who lives in a children’s home. While in hospital he forms a close bond with “Captain” Korda (Vladimír Brabec), in reality a train dispatcher who later decides to make plans for Pepík’s adoption. However, the joy of the childless couple and Pepík’s happiness too is suddenly disturbed by the boy’s mother… Even though Kapitán Korda was aimed at a children’s audience, it still carries traces of the socio-psychological drama that was typical of the 1960s. Child actor Michal Vavruša excelled in the role of Pepík and was subsequently chosen by Karel Kachyňa for his film Vlak do stanice Nebe (The Train to the Heaven Station, 1972) and by František Vláčil for Sirius (Sirius, 1974). Vavruša also starred in Pinkava’s short film Poštovský panáček (The Postman, 1974).

Synopsis

Little Pepík from a children home and the train dispatcher "Captain" Korda become friends in a hospital where they are both undergoing therapy. Korda loves children, and since he lives in a marriage without issue, he takes the boy home when his treatment is over. Pepík is very happy at the Kordas'. He discovers a new world there, new experiences, friendship and kindness. Along with his friend Mikulda and a gang of children called Hašťaláks', he also takes part in various roguish naughty tricks. But when he constructs a little boat with his new father, he also learns new skills as well as the feeling of responsibility for his acts. The summer holiday is approaching and the Kordas' decide to adopt the boy. Their plans are, however, interrupted by Pepík's natural mother. She was married in a village years ago and now wants to have the boy with herself. Pepík's life changes in an instant. His step-father does not like him and considers him only an alien who costs money. He thus forces Pepík to work all the time. In his lonely and gloomy moments, Pepík sends the "Captain" sad messages in bottles by the stream. From time to time, he also spoils something, which becomes the cause of great troubles at home. Following one quarrel with his step-father, Pepík sets off on foot to see the "Captain". An old block signalman finds him by the railway tracks and sends for Korda. Korda takes the boy back home with love.

Cast

Michal Vavruša

Pepík Horáček

Vladimír Brabec

výpravčí Korda

Milena Dvorská

Kordova žena

Drahomíra Hofmanová

Pepíkova matka

Jiří Vala

Navrátil, Pepíkův nevlastní otec

Vlastislav Hudec

Mikulda, Pepíkův kamarád

Jiří Sika

Hašťalák

Roman Skřivánek

Hašťalák

Jan Stibor

Hašťalák

Ota Kadleček

Otík, nejmenší Hašťalák

Rudolf Vavřínek

náčelník Hašťaláků zvaný Zoban

Antonín Ženčák

pochůzkář na trati

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Zdeněk Zydroň

Based on

Marie Kubátová (Korvetní kapitán Korda – povídka)

Shooting Script

Josef Pinkava

Dramaturg

Josef Strnad

Director of Photography

Karel Kopecký

Camera Operator

Arne Parduba

Production Designer

Jaroslav Krška

Set Designer

František Santarius

Costume Designer

Naďa Škapová

Make-Up Artist

Karel Marek, Karel Konrád

Sound Designer

Radomír Koutek, Bohumír Brunclík (zvukové efekty)

Production Manager

Zdeněk Stibor

Unit Production Manager

Vojtěch Kunčík

Cooperation

Zdeněk Cholek, Raimund Sysala

Music

Music Composed by

Angelo Michajlov

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)

Production info

Original Title

Kapitán Korda

Czech Title

Kapitán Korda

English Title

Captain Korda

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

children

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1970

Production Year

1969—1970

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 05/1969
start of filming 23 July 1969
end of filming 1 February 1970
projection approval 30 June 1970

Premiere

gala premiere 18 November 1970 (kino Sevastopol, Praha)
premiere 27 November 1970 /suitable for youths/ (celostátní)
premiere 7 January 1971 /suitable for youths/ (kino Hvězda /1 týden/, Praha)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

87 min

Original length in metres

2 465 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

Awards

Vítěz

Festival: FILMÁK ’98 Plzeň – 4. filmový festival plzeňských dětí a mládeže Plzeň

1998
Plzeň / Czech Republic
Josef Pinkava

Vítěz

Festival: 9. mezinárodní festival filmů pro děti Gijón

1971
Gijón / Spain

Vítěz

Festival: 9. mezinárodní festival filmů pro děti Gijón

1971
Gijón / Spain

Vítěz

Exhibition: 2. přehlídka filmů pro děti Ostrov nad Ohří

1970
Ostrov nad Ohří / Czechoslovakia
Michal Vavruša