Wrath
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1977Production year
1977Premiere
6 October 1978Runtime
89 minDirector
Zbyněk BrynychCategory
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
HněvCzech title
HněvEnglish title
WrathSummary
The Klement Gottwald coal mine in Vinařice serves as the backdrop for this dramatic story about Hepnar, an aged miner who has devoted his whole life to toiling underground. He dwells on how in 1967 the state decided that coal extraction would have to be reduced because several coal deposits were nearly exhausted. To prevent the mine from being closed, Hepnar decides to search, on his own accord, for a new coal seam using old maps. His son Ivan is killed during this risky endeavour, but the seam is discovered and the colliery is saved from closure… It was in 1977 that Zbyněk Brynych took on the task of shooting this “building a better socialist future” drama. The fictitious story of an individual was supposed to support the state’s decision to persist with uneconomic coal extraction. Václav Neužil, also known for his performances in films such as Zbraně pro Prahu (Weapons for Prague, 1974), Lidé z metra (People from the Subway, 1974) and Vítězný lid (The Victorious People, 1977), takes the film’s leading role. The protagonist’s sons in this state-ordered propagandistic period movie are played by Jiří Štěpnička and Tomáš Töpfer.
Synopsis
Sunday in September 1977, a celebration of the Miners Day. The old Hepnar is sitting at the cemetery and is recalling events from ten years ago. That time the representative of the ministry Barvíř announced at the miners meeting that mining in the mines would decrease. He reasoned this decision by the fact the deposits of coal are almost used up. The boss of the mine and most of the miners protested. Barvíř did not take their critical objections into account. He announced at the communist district meeting the closure of the business as the mine according to new economic principles did not prosper. He was supported by the secretary of the municipality Zima who wanted to rebuild the town into a spa complex. On the contrary, the mayor Foglar was supporting the miners. Hepnar did not accept the destruction of the mines. He recalled some old maps of the underground which belonged to the former owner. According to these maps there was still a great deposit of coal. Hepnar and his retired friends get at night to the pit, where they believe to find coal. When two of his sons realize that their father is in the mine, they set off to find him. After their arrival there is a cave-in, but behind the caved-in timbering there is lot of coal. This costs however Hepnar's son Ivan life. Other miners are rescued and the pit as well. Only Hepnar taxes himself with the fact he killed his own son. The second son Richard and his children are the only comfort for him.
Photos
Cast
Václav Neužil
starý horník Hepnar
Miloslav Holub
starý horník Karbaš zvaný Rozbuška
Jiří Štěpnička
horník Richard, Hepnarův syn
Tomáš Töpfer
horník Ivan, Hepnarův syn
Vanda Švarcová
Helena, Ivanova žena
Jana Švandová
kantýnská Manka, Richardova přítelkyně
Vlasta Vlasáková
lékařka zvaná Železná panna
Karel Dellapina
horník Zrzek
Milan Riehs
ředitel dolu
Vlastimil Fišar
docent Barvíř, zástupce ministerstva
Nina Bártů
stařenka Božena Kubešová
Alois Liškutín
tajemník MNV Zima
Jana Drbohlavová
Zimova žena
Vladimír Ptáček
horník Kozel
Václav Stýblo
předseda MNV Karel Fejfar
Květoslava Kachlíková
Liduška, Fejfarova žena
Jaroslav Radimecký
Němec Klaus
Karel Tieftrunk
předseda ZO KSČ
Oldřich Lukeš
vrátný Hozák
Petr Herrmann
horník Fero
Karel Vavřík
Němec Tony
Mirko Musil
řidič Toník
Vladimír Kudla
mladý horník
Vítězslav Černý
kuchař Vašek
Vít Olmer
reportér z televize
Jiřina Chlumská
ředitelova žena
Jan Cmíral
horník Valchař
Brigáda soc. pr. dolu KG-Vinařice
Jindřich Petráň
vedoucí brigády
Stanislav Thon
člen brigády
Rudolf Valím
člen brigády
Bohumil Polívka
člen brigády
Zdeněk Prokop
člen brigády
Antonín Černý
Houra
Karel Červinka
horník
František Herzog
horník
Zbygniew Jassa
horník
František Klika (2)
horník
Ondřej Kopper
horník
František Košnar
horník
Vlastimil Pokorný
horník
Václav Hladík
horník Kozel
Josef Ševčík
horník
Jaroslav Tomsa
horník
Jaroslav Vlk
horník
Bohumil Vávra
horník
Michal Wang
horník
Josef Havel
Eman
Vlasta Gottwaldová
zdravotní sestra
Milan Klásek
strojník
Stanislav Litera
Franta
Petr Svárovský
architekt
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Continuity
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Zdenka Neškrdová, Karel Kracík, Miloš Sršeň
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Consultant
Ing. Cyril Matušek
Cooperation
Helena Kadlecová (klapka), Jaromír Komárek (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by František Belfín), Orchestr Ladislava Štaidla
Songs
Melodie beze slov
Song Composer Ladislav Štaidl
Singer Marie Rottrová
Přijela pouť
Song Composer Ladislav Štaidl
Writer of Lyrics Jiří Štaidl
Singer Karel Gott
Děvčátko z kolonie
Song Composer Rudolf Kubín
Writer of Lyrics Josef SládekVáclav RumlRudolf Kubín
Singer mužský hlas
Havířova růže
Song Composer Jan Korda
Writer of Lyrics Václav Zeman
Production info
Original Title
Hněv
Czech Title
Hněv
English Title
Wrath
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1977
Production Year
1977
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 19 April 1977
start of filming 23 May 1977
technical Screenplay approved 16 June 1977
end of filming 29 November 1977
projection approval 19 December 1977
Premiere
premiere 6 October 1978 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Miroslava Hladkého, Miroslav Hladký (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
89 min
Original length in metres
2 573 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
