The Ravens’ Stronghold

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1977

Production year

1976—1977

Premiere

8 September 1978

Runtime

64 min

Director

Jan Schmidt

Category

film

Genre

adventure

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Osada Havranů

Czech title

Osada Havranů

English title

The Ravens’ Stronghold

Working title

Havranpírko / Dar Veliké řeky / Trilogie z pravěku

Summary

In 1977, the adventure books of author Eduard Štorch inspired a trio of “prehistoric” films from director Jan Schmidt. Osada Havranů (The Ravens' Stronghold) forms the first instalment in this trilogy (the other two are Na Veliké řece – On the Big River; and Volání rodu – Indivisible Clan). The hero of the tale is young boy Havranpírko, or “Little Raven Feather”. The film tells the story of how little Havranpírko arrives on the currents of an overflowing river, and is accepted into the Order of the Ravens. The youngster is only received in his new home due to a sacred sign. But Havranpírko is afforded genuine protection by the brave hunter Sokol, or “Falcon”, who trains the young boy to become a courageous warrior... This adventure tale, geared towards younger audiences, serves an educational purpose, offering viewers a somewhat idealised view of life in prehistoric times. Alongside child non-actor Ludvík Hradílk, Jiří Bartoška shines as the stout Sokol.

Synopsis

A river in flood carries a small boy to the Raven settlement. The hunters want to kill him, but when a ravenfeather floats down onto him the boy is saved, for ravens are sacred in the stronghold. The boy is adopted into the clan and gets the name Havranpírko [Raven-feather]. The years go by and Havranpírko has become a strapping youth but has still not been accepted among the men. When the men go out hunting he has to stay at home and guard the women. He makes friends with young Sokol [Falcon] from the neighbouring village and Sokol teaches him to shoot with a bow and catch small game. One day, when the men have gone off to hunt boar, brigands attack the village, steal a cow, abduct the girl Veveřice [Squirrel] and knock Havranpírko senseless. But Sokol is at hand. Together with Havranpírko he catches up with the brigands. They free Veveřice, recover the booty and, having called the hunters to their aid, they put the brigands to flight. Merchants who exchange salt, flints, and cloth with the villagers for furs and horns bring some excitement to life in the stronghold. Then a cruel winter sets in and the Ravens are hungry. Havranpírko catches Divous [Wild-One] stealing corn, but the latter cunningly gets the boy himself blamed for the theft instead. As a punishment, Havranpírko is driven out of the stronghold, but Veveřice discovers Divous and his wife baking bread. Now it is clear who the thief is, and Divous and his wife Vrtilka have to leave the village. The long winter ends, and spring and summer finally come round. Havranpírko hunts with Sokol and manages to shoot and kill with bow and arrow deer. With this deed he becomes, in Sokol's words, a "hunter of the clan".

Note

The first part of a trilogy set in the prehistoric age. For the second part, see On the Great River and for the third part, see Call of the Clan.

Film online

Cast

Jiří Bartoška

lovec Sokol

Ludvík Hradilek

Voice by Roman Skamene
Havranpírko

Marie Sýkorová

Veveřice

Bohumil Vávra

Starý Havran

Vilém Besser

lovec Divous

Bořivoj Navrátil

kupec Ger, Kamův otec

Jaroslav Mařan

Zoban

Václav Wittmann

Kozel

Lenka Machoninová

Vrtilka, Divousova žena

Vlasta Gottwaldová

Sluka

Eva Lysáková

Drápova žena

Libuše Kosová

Syslova žena

Jan Míškovský

Kořínek

Stanislav Hájek

lovec Sobol

Ladislav Lahoda

lovec z rodu Havranů

Michal Träger

lovec z rodu Havranů

Eva Roučková

žena z rodu Havranů

Václav Tvaroh

Havranpírko jako malý

Ladislav Winter

Sokolík

Petr Herrmann

Voice by Mirko Musil
cizinec-zloděj

Petr Jákl

cizinec-zloděj

Jaroslav Tomsa

cizinec-zloděj

Jiří Sládek

veslař

František Jákl

kupecký nosič

Miroslav Jíra

kupecký nosič

Ladislav Treybal

kupecký nosič

Zdeněk Srstka

lukostřelec

Commentary

Crew and creators

Director

Jan Schmidt

Second Unit Director

František Matoušek

Assistant Director

Jiří Prokeš, Josef Loučím

Screenstory

Pavel Juráček

Based on

Eduard Štorch (Osada Havranů – román)

Screenplay

Milan Pavlík

Shooting Script

Jan Schmidt

Dramaturg

Ivan Urban

Director of Photography

Jiří Macák

Second Unit Photography

Rudolf Holan

Camera Operator

Jan Hanzal

Production Designer

Jindřich Goetz

Assistent Production Designer

Jaromír Švarc

Set Designer

Jiří Bžoch, Karel Kracík, Dana Smržová, Pavel Šoltys

Costume Designer

Theodor Pištěk ml.

Film Editor

Miroslav Hájek

Assistant Film Editor

Magda Hájková, Helena Lehovcová

Sound Designer

František Fabián

Production Manager

Blažej Vráb

Unit Production Manager

Rudolf Mos, Vlastimil Maršálek

Unit Production Manager

Hana Holá

Consultant

dr. Karel Sklenář, RNDr. Jiří Olšbauer, Jaroslav Tomsa

Cooperation

Helena Kadlecová (klapka), Karel Šebík (fotograf), V. Suchomel, Z. Kudrna

Music

Music Composed by

Zdeněk Liška

Music Performed by

FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín), Studio elektronické hudby FSB

Music Supervisor

Jiří Zobač

Production info

Original Title

Osada Havranů

Czech Title

Osada Havranů

English Title

The Ravens’ Stronghold

Working Title

Havranpírko / Dar Veliké řeky / Trilogie z pravěku

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

adventure

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1977

Production Year

1976—1977

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 14 April 1975
start of filming 4 January 1976
technical Screenplay approved 13 May 1976
end of filming 2 November 1977
projection approval 24 November 1977

Premiere

premiere 8 September 1978 /suitable for youths/

Studio

Hostivař

Creative Group

Dramaturgická skupina Oty Hofmana, Ota Hofman (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

64 min

Original length in metres

1 869 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

Festival: 29. filmový festival pracujících – léto ´78

1978
61 měst / Czechoslovakia

Vítěz

Festival: 18. festival filmů pro děti Gottwaldov

1978
Zlín / Czechoslovakia