The idea of there having been a romantic affair between thirteenth century Queen of Bohemia Kunigunda (Kunhuta) and nobleman Záviš of Falkenstein is considered mere speculation by numerous historians. That did not of course stop director Karel Steklý from making a film loosely based on the historical facts. Steklý penned the script for the film alongside his favourite collaborator Věra Líznerová. It was transformed into Hra o královnu (Playing for Queen) in 1980. The story builds on a triangle of three noble adversaries in love and politics: Záviš, Kunigunda and King Ottokar II of Bohemia, whom the queen, originally a Hungarian princess, was made to marry for political reasons. A veteran in the director’s chair at 77, Steklý wagered the success of the film on comic hyperbole and attractive casting: the female lead went to Hana Maciuchová, Záviš was played by Radoslav Brzobohatý and František Němec starred as the Přemyslid king, Ottokar II.
During a first passing meeting of Kunhuta the Hungarian princess, and Záviš of Falkenštejn something clicked between both young people. But to due political reasons Kunhuta has to marry the Bohemian king Přemysl Otakar II. Both meet again after ten years. The jealous king sends Záviš to exile. In the war conflict between Přemysl and Rudolph of the Hapsburgs, Záviš joins together with a part of the Czech nobility the side of Rudolph. Přemysl is in a difficult situation and so Kunhuta visits Záviš in disguise and she asks him to help Přemysl. But the king refuses his proposals and he is soon defeated on the Moravian field where he also dies. Two soldiers coming back from the battle take care of the wounded Záviš. They bring even Žofie, the queen's companion from Prague, who has loved Záviš a long time. After long negotiations with Otto of Brandenburg, Záviš becomes the highest Bailiff and Kunhuta decides to marry him. But Záviš's enemies don't like it and therefore they plan how to remove him. During the wedding feast Kunhuta gets sick and shortly after that she dies. The tricky bishop accuses Záviš of her murder. The lonely Záviš comes back to the pub, where he spent good time with Žofie and both soldiers. The soldiers play a dice, but they don't accept Záviš anymore as a companion because when he was famous he forgot about them.
královna Kunhuta
Záviš z Falkenštejna
Přemysl Otakar II.
císař Rudolf I. Habsburský
Milota z Dědic
Žofie z Říčan
uherský král Béla IV.
biskup Bruno
biskup Tobiáš
Žofiin otec, pán z Říčan
voják Knapec
lapka
Heřman z Hohenberku
markrabě Otto Braniborský
Budivoj z Krumlova, Závišův otec
rytíř Hynek z Dubé
abatyše Anežka Přemyslovna
děkan, Kunhutin zpovědník
služka Dorota
český šlechtic Vojíř
Oldřich z Hradce
voják Otty Braniborského, pán z Okoře
Vok
Arpádovec Štěpán, Kunhutin strýc
masér
Mojžíš
sklepmistr
písař Božetěch
Pektari
Zdislav
sluha Vešek
převorka
Vítek
pán z Konopiště
panoš
řezník
pán z Kravař
velitel u Oty
kupec/pištec
Boreš
Kuno
Jindřich
Hroznata
tanečnice
tanečnice
tanečnice
tanečnice
tanečnice
tanečnice
tanečnice
tanečnice
tanečnice
jezdec na koni
tanečník
tanečník
tanečník
tanečník
tanečník
tanečník
tanečník
tanečník
tanečník
dvorní dáma
dvorní dáma
šermíř
šermíř
šermíř
šermíř
zbrojnoš
zbrojnoš
zbrojnoš
strážný
Tomáš Urban, Věra Vláčilová
Bedřich Čermák, Josef Müller, Dana Smržová
Karel Prchal, Vladimír Tišer
Václav Veruněk
D. Urbanová, Miroslav Pešan, Alena Chvojková, František Vokřál
Ladislav Štaidl (Orchestr Ladislava Štaidla), Milivoj Uzelac (FISYO)
Hra o královnu
Playing for Queen
Já královna
film
feature
historical
Czechoslovakia
1980
1980
13 March 1981
long
90 min
Czech