A Solo for an Old Lady
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1978Production year
1978Premiere
21 September 1979Runtime
87 minDirector
Václav MatějkaCategory
filmGenre
drama, psychologicalTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Sólo pro starou dámuCzech title
Sólo pro starou dámuEnglish title
A Solo for an Old LadyWorking title
Polka na rozloučenouSummary
In 1978, director Václav Matějka filmed this adaptation of the novel Rychlík z Normiberka (Nuremberg Express) by author Valja Stýblová. This psychological drama served as actress Jiřina Šejbalová’s last on-screen appearance. The 73-year-old plays a Czech women, who married a German man shortly before the start of World War II. After three decades abroad, the ageing Marie Hahnová returns home, but does not find the serenity she had been seeking. Former neighbours and distant relatives have not forgotten that her husband hated the Czechs – and moreover, accuse her family of being Gestapo informers. For Marie, unaware of anything of the kind, such accusations represent a huge shock… Director Matějka emphasises the shallower, and more ideologically acceptable aspects of the story, making his feature an excellent example of hardcore “normalization” era propaganda. The fact that he was provided with expensive, widescreen colour film stock, shows that those in charge at Barrandov film studios in Prague during these times very much rewarded directors willing to tow the party line.
Synopsis
Marie Hahnová, a Czech woman who married a German shortly before World War II, comes to visit Czechoslovakia after thirty years. Her daughter Margit has made an arrangement with an old friend of her mother's, Irena and with the family of Věra Pechlátová's daughter, that Marie will stay with her in Prague. Marie is spellbound by the city; she visits well-known places, even a lively music hall. The Pechláts do their best to make Marie's stay enjoyable. Only Zdena Lhotáková, Marie's niece, does not rush to greet her aunt. She has a good reason for it: her brother Jiří was shot dead by the Germans during the war and Zdena is convinced that it was Margit who turned him in. Marie knows nothing of the incident. The Pechláts take her for a trip to the region where she was born. Marie is excited at the prospect of meeting her countrymen, but she finds that she is not welcome. People cannot forget that Hahn, her husband, hated Czechs. When visiting the Lhotáks, they start talking about what happened during the occupation. Marie insists that she did not know about anything bad going on. Finally, though, the former handmaid Běta tells her that Margit turned in their neighbour Franěk to the Gestapo. Hearing this news, Marie collapses with a heart attack. Doctors recommend that she return home. Margit, however, does not want her back. She and her husband are leaving for Brazil and her mother would be in their way. Marie eventually returns, but only to find the villa completely empty. She learns about the reality of the situation from the driver of the laundry van.
Photos
Cast
Jiřina Šejbalová
Marie Hahnová
Alena Vránová
Margit, Mariina dcera
Marie Rosůlková
Irena, Mariina přítelkyně
Dana Medřická
úřednice Věra Pechlátová, Irenina dcera
Josef Větrovec
instalatér František, Věřin manžel
Jaroslav Satoranský
taxikář Makovský
Karel Vochoč
Rožánek
Zdena Hadrbolcová
Anča, Rožánkova žena
Věra Galatíková
Zdena Lhotáková, Mariina neteř
Otakar Brousek
inženýr Lhoták, Zdenin muž
Vilém Pfeiffer
Vojta Šindelář
Milan Riehs
Karl Schwanzer, Mariin zeť
Václav Vydra
Pavel, syn Pechlátových
Lenka Kořínková
Pralinka, dcera Rožánkových, Pavlova žena
Nina Popelíková
Běta Koulová, bývalá služebná
Marie Motlová
Holíková
Jiří Korn
zpěvák
Hana Buštíková
zpěvačka
František Řehák
Coufal
Jaroslava Tichá
Coufalová
Ota Sklenčka
lékař
Ivana Andrlová
Lída, dcera Lhotákových
Jana Gýrová
dcera Coufalových
Gabriela Osvaldová
dcera Coufalových
Jan Cmíral ml.
syn Coufalových
Jana Vychodilová
správcová
Miloš Vávra
učitel
Petr Pospíchal
mladý inženýr
Milan Sandhaus
řidič dodávky s prádlem
Petr Skarke
německý celník
Lubomíra Willigová
Šulová
Karel Fridrich
Sláma
Karel Chromík
mistr na stavbě
Mnislav Hofmann
Malík
Pavla Maršálková
žena v šátku
Karel Bělohradský
vyvolávač na pouti
Lena Birková
příbuzná
Slávka Hamouzová
příbuzná
Věra Laňková
příbuzná
Vladimír Navrátil
příbuzný
Josef A. Stehlík
příbuzný
Erna Březinová
baletka
Jana Ostrá
baletka
Naděžda Izakovičová
baletka
Kateřina Štorkánová
baletka
Miroslav Lonský
dirigent
Josef Kotěšovský
tanečník
Josef Šedivý
kapelník
Václav Blažej
hudebník
Václav Bor
hudebník
Karel Braniš
hudebník
Jaroslav Hrdina
hudebník
Karel Chaloupka
hudebník
Jindřich Matouš
hudebník
Antonín Volf
hudebník
Jungman
hudebník
Kofroň
hudebník
Kopec
hudebník
Musel
hudebník
Šebek
hudebník
Šifta
hudebník
Vávra
hudebník
Horský
houslista
Jan Konšal
harmonikář
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Jitka Hoferková
Continuity
Based on
Valja Stýblová (Rychlík do Norimberka – novela)
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Special Effects
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Milan Štěch, Ladislav Beneš
Unit Production Manager
Lucie Hertlová
Cooperation
Irena Sedláčková (klapka), Zdeněk Dukát (fotograf)
Music
Songs
Dáme svému smutku pa, au revoir
Song Composer Petr Hapka
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Rytíř
Singer Hana BuštíkováJiří Korn
Praha je krásná
Song Composer Josef Stelibský
Writer of Lyrics Karel MelíškJaroslav Mottl
Singer Dana MedřickáJosef VětrovecMarie RosůlkováJiřina Šejbalová
Hájku, háječku
Singer sbor
V tom starém domě
Song Composer Karel Hašler
Writer of Lyrics Karel Hašler
Singer sbor
Vykovej, kováři, železný obruče
Singer sbor
Pod našima okny teče vodička
Ty musíš má milá něco na mě vědět
Singer sbor
Production info
Original Title
Sólo pro starou dámu
Czech Title
Sólo pro starou dámu
English Title
A Solo for an Old Lady
Working Title
Polka na rozloučenou
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama, psychological
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1978
Production Year
1978
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 2 January 1978
start of filming 6 May 1978
technical Screenplay approved 19 June 1978
end of filming 13 December 1978
projection approval 18 December 1978
Premiere
premiere 21 September 1979 /unsuitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Drahoslava Makovičky, Drahoslav Makovička (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
87 min
Original length in metres
2 482 meters
Distribution carrier
35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66, 1:2,35
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: 24. mezinárodní filmový festival Valladolid
1979
Valladolid / Spain
Jiřina Šejbalová
Vítěz
Festival: 30. filmový festival pracujících – léto ´79
1979
62 měst / Czechoslovakia
Jiřina Šejbalová
Vítěz
Festival: 17. festival českých a slovenských filmů Hradec Králové
1979
Hradec Králové / Czechoslovakia
František Uldrich
Vítěz
Festival: 17. festival českých a slovenských filmů Hradec Králové
1979
Hradec Králové / Czechoslovakia
Jiřina Šejbalová
