Two Things for Life
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1972Production year
1972Premiere
23 February 1973Runtime
89 minDirector
Jiří HanibalCategory
filmGenre
psychologicalTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Dvě věci pro životCzech title
Dvě věci pro životEnglish title
Two Things for LifeSummary
During the 1970s, writer-director Jiří Hanibal primarily specialised in escapist fare for children and young viewers. But in 1972, an exception was made with this psychological drama about a young man who decides to stand on his own two feet and find a “decent” job. For the discontented Vašek, that means a one-year stint in the coal mines of Ostrava. Wife Božka is unhappy with the decision. But the hard work in the mines, and the male bonding that ensues at the rooming house, both serve to open Vašek’s eyes. And so the man chooses two new life priorities: work as a miner and new love via geologist Ajka – rejecting his spoilt and increasingly alienated wife in the process. Ladislav Potměšil takes the lead role, supported by two heroic leading ladies, namely Eva Trejtnarová (Božka) and Jaroslava Brousková (Ajka).
Synopsis
After returning home from the army, Vašek has married Božka and the couple now live at her parents' house. Vašek is unhappy both with his work and with sharing the house with Božka's parents. He and his friend Ruda decide to take a temporary job in Ostrava for a year. Božka is against this, but Vašek gets his way. Mining is hard work but Vašek gradually adapts to it. He gets homesick from time to time and wants to go back, but his pride always wins out. Once he really does travel back to see Božka, but he doesn't find her at home. He has witnessed his fellow miners' unfaithfulness in Ostrava and he has also learned about Joža's wife, who has found herself a lover. He spends Christmas with Božka but has to return to Ostrava before the New Year's Eve and Božka is very unhappy about this. At a New Year's Party Vašek meets Ajka who is working at the Institute for Geology. He does not conceal the fact that he is married and Ajka agrees to meet him from time to time as a friends. Even so, with time their relationship becomes more serious. And when Vašek finds out that Božka has found another man, he stays for good in Ostrava where he now has his work and Ajka.
Photos
Cast
Ladislav Potměšil
Václav
Eva Trejtnarová
Božka, Václavova žena
Jiří Krampol
havíř Franta Oulík
Lubor Tokoš
revírník Josef Tuháň
František Šec
havíř Patočka zvaný Saul
Július Vašek
havíř Jožo Ďurica
Oldřich Vlach
Ruda Režnar, Václavův kamarád
Karel Augusta
havíř Burda
František Řehák
havíř Sonka
Ladislav Mrkvička
havíř Maršálek
Jan Libíček
vedoucí ubytovny Vošta
Oľga Šalagová
Betka, Jožova žena
Taťána Fischerová
Magda
Jiří Havel
bezpečnostní technik Kouša
Pavel Jiras
muž v hospodě
Ferdinand Krůta
táta Božky
Blanka Vikusová
matka Božky
Jana Janěková
Magdina kamarádka
Oldřich Velen
vedoucí úseku Karas
Vladimír Hrabánek
muž v pyžamu
Rudolf Vodrážka
milenec Betky
Bohumil Šmída
ředitel
Dalimil Klapka
odborový funkcionář
Vlasta Machníková
servírka
Radoslav Dubanský
havíř
Bohumil Koška
havíř
Jiří Klem
mladík
J. Čížková
Marcela
Karel Meister ml.
zraněný havíř
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Augustin Valko
Continuity
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Jan Petrů, Jiří Žůček, Václav Pošta
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Ladislav Beneš, Petra Havlínová
Unit Production Manager
Ivo Pitrák
Cooperation
Michaela Šulcová (klapka), Jaroslav Trousil (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín)
Songs
Lodí bílou
Song Composer Ladislav PikartKarel Kopecký
Writer of Lyrics Ivo Fischer
Singer Karel HálaVokální soubor Lubomíra Pánka
Production info
Original Title
Dvě věci pro život
Czech Title
Dvě věci pro život
English Title
Two Things for Life
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
psychological
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1972
Production Year
1972
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 3 January 1972
start of filming 10 January 1972
technical Screenplay approved 4 February 1972
end of filming 13 July 1972
projection approval 10 August 1972
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1986
Premiere
festival premiere 11 January 1973 (24. filmový festival pracujících – leden ´73)
premiere 22 February 1973 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Sevastopol a Paříž, Praha)
premiere 23 February 1973 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Karla Copa, Karel Cop (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
89 min
Original length in metres
2 500 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech, Slovak
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Exhibition: 2. přehlídka současné filmové tvorby socialistických zemí Karlovy Vary
1972
Karlovy Vary / Czechoslovakia
