A Woman in Every Room
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1974Production year
1973—1974Premiere
25 October 1974Runtime
99 minDirector
Jaroslav BalíkCategory
filmGenre
psychologicalTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
V každém pokoji ženaCzech title
V každém pokoji ženaEnglish title
A Woman in Every RoomWorking title
V tomto roce v tomto dniSummary
In 1974, director Jaroslav Balík decided to relate the stories found within Prague’s Ženské domovy [note: women’s home for working single women]. Balík was assisted in adapting the tales he heard from women of all ages and backgrounds by author and screenwriter Jan Otčenášek. The lives of the inhabitants of the women’s home are all linked by a common desire to find a partner: Jiřina has managed to marry, but her protégé, salesgirl Soňa, bemoans her friend’s departure from the facility. Marriage poses a problem for Zuzana, too, as she is seeing married man Richard. A new arrival in the home, Vlasta, tries in vain to rekindle a relationship with her husband, who has recently returned from exile. It seems that only trade union official Anežka has a chance at a secure relationship. The film’s protagonists assist each other in overcoming their respective issues. The large female cast offered director Balík the opportunity to feature a number of talented actresses, including Marta Vančurová, Ida Rapaičová, Marie Rosůlková and Hana Maciuchová.
Synopsis
Vlasta has moved to a women's hostel located in one street of Prague's Old Town. She takes the place of Jiřina, who has left the hostel after getting married. The wedding was a true feast, only a shop-assistant Soňa cannot get over Jiřina's departure and sees it as a betrayal. This shy girl grew up in a children's home and thus grew very close to her room-mate. The rational Vlasta completely rejects Soňa's tears. Women living in the hostel are of different ages, characters and also experience. Zuzana shows off with her great love, Richard, who is in reality a married man and sees the girl only as a means of entertainment. Two oldest inhabitants of the hostel - lieutenant's widow nicknamed generálka (The General) and the usherette called Kalvodová - are constantly quarrelling. Vlasta works in a bus repair garage and is very cautious about courting the handsome engineer called Bém. On a trip to Sázava, Vlasta refuses Bém's proposal of marriage. In a fit of rage, she then tells the co-inhabitants of a hostel many hurtful truths about their lives. Kalvodová, whose fiancé was killed during the Nazi occupation, begs Vlasta to spare the quarrelsome General. Vlasta is embarrassed. What is more, Zuzana in despair attempts to commit suicide. Anežka, active in the Trade Unions, meets her ex-husband and the now mature relationship leads to their re-marriage. Vlasta is happy that her husband returns from a four-year emigration, although the relationship ends as both of them have changed. Zuzana becomes wiser. Even Soňa finds her own independence. Aided by Bém, Vlasta starts demanding studying.
Photos
Cast
Ida Rapaičová
autoopravářka Vlasta Bezděková
Antonie Hegerliková
odborová funkcionářka Anežka Faltová
Hana Maciuchová
Zuzana Šmídová, úřednice Čedoku
Marta Vančurová
prodavačka nábytku Soňa
Eva Svobodová
uvaděčka Kalvodová
Marie Rosůlková
vdova po podporučíkovi zvaná Generálka
Libuše Švormová
letuška Lída
Eva Čeřovská
kadeřnice Ivanka
Libuše Geprtová
ošetřovatelka Jiřina
Jaroslav Satoranský
vedoucí autoopravny Ing. Honza Bém
Vladimír Brabec
Zbyněk, Vlastin manžel
Jaroslav Moučka
Vojta, Anežčin bývalý manžel
Jan Teplý
Ing. Richard Jakš, Zuzanin milenec
Ferdinand Krůta
Hynšt, mistr v autoopravně
Gustav Heverle
automechanik Berka
Karel Augusta
automechanik Bandaska
Vlastimil Hašek
automechanik Jindra
Antonín Soukup
vrátný Chvátal
Zdeněk Deyl
Jarda, Ivančin přítel
Valentina Thielová
Slávka
Hana Talpová
Maruška
Jana Švandová
Kateřina
Eva Vytlačilová
Jitka
Hana Packertová
Petra
Kateřina Frýbová
Alena, Zuzanina kolegyně
Michaela Mišková
Míša
Jan Kuděla
fotoreportér
Jaroslav Chlasták
fotoreportér
Miloslav Homola
funkcionář
Jan Kraus
dělník
Rudolf Kalina
dělník
Alena Kryštofková
sekretářka u Faltové
Rudolf Vodrážka
Rudolf, Jiřinin ženich
Jiří Malý
mladík
Eva Kůsová
dívka ve sprše/žena za oknem
Daniela Šauerová
dívka ve sprše
Josef Havlín
hudebník
Vítězslav Brandejský
hudebník
Karel Kos
hudebník
Sláva Kunst
hudebník
Vadim Petrov
hudebník
Jana Nácovská
dubl za Idu Rapaičovou – jízda na motocyklu
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Jiří Kratochvíl, Hana Cvejnová
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Jiří Bžoch, Karel Kracík, Dana Smržová
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Petra Havlínová, Ladislav Beneš
Unit Production Manager
Pavel Mangl
Cooperation
Ivana Švejdová (klapka), Oldřich Křesina (vrchní osvětlovač), Jan Kuděla (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín)
Songs
Každodenní den
Song Composer Karel Mareš
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Borovec
Singer Petra Janů
Hvězdy ve Splitu nad mořem /Daleko me moj Split/
Song Composer Ivo Tijardović
Writer of Lyrics Jiří Voldán
Singer ženský sbor
Production info
Original Title
V každém pokoji žena
Czech Title
V každém pokoji žena
English Title
A Woman in Every Room
Working Title
V tomto roce v tomto dni
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
psychological
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1974
Production Year
1973—1974
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 22 October 1973
start of filming 1 November 1973
technical Screenplay approved 20 December 1973
end of filming 4 July 1974
projection approval 10 July 1974
Premiere
gala premiere 9 October 1974 (kino Lucerna, Praha)
premiere 10 October 1974 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Lucerna, Praha)
premiere 25 October 1974 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Vladimíra Kaliny, Vladimír Kalina (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
99 min
Original length in metres
2 780 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Event: Múzy pražských diváků
1975
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Marta Vančurová
Vítěz
Event: Literární soutěž k 25. výročí Února
1974
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jaroslav Balík
Vítěz
Event: Literární soutěž k 25. výročí Února
1974
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jan Otčenášek
