Playing for Queen

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1980

Production year

1980

Premiere

13 March 1981

Runtime

90 min

Director

Karel Steklý

Genre

historical

Typology

featurelong

Original title

Hra o královnu

Czech title

Hra o královnu

English title

Playing for Queen

Working Title

Já královna

Summary

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.

Synopsis

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.

Crew and creators

Set Designer

Bedřich Čermák, Josef Müller, Dana Smržová

Costume Designer

Dimitrij Kadrnožka

Costumes

František Zapletal, Nita Romanečová

Make-Up Artist

František Čížek, Vlasta Hájková, Jaroslav Hruška

Film Editor

Jan Chaloupek

Sound Designer

Jiří Hora

Production Manager

Jiří Zika

Unit Production Manager

Karel Prchal, Vladimír Tišer

Unit Production Manager

Václav Veruněk

Cooperation

D. Urbanová, Miroslav Pešan, Alena Chvojková, František Vokřál

Music

Music Composed by

Ladislav Štaidl

Music Performed by

Orchestr Ladislava Štaidla, FISYO

Music Conducted by

Ladislav Štaidl (Orchestr Ladislava Štaidla), Milivoj Uzelac (FISYO)

Production info

Original Title

Hra o královnu

English Title

Playing for Queen

Working Title

Já královna

Typology

feature

Genre

historical

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1980

Production Year

1980

Premiere

13 March 1981

Production

Filmové studio Barrandov

Copyright Holders

Státní fond kinematografie

Distribution

Ústřední půjčovna filmů

Creative Group

Drahoslav Makovička

Sales

Národní filmový archiv, Obchodní oddělení

Technical info

Lenght

long

Runtime

90 min

Versions

Czech

Playing for Queen

Country

Copyright

Production year

Premiere

Runtime

Director

Category

Genre

Typology

Original title

Czech title

English title

Working Title

Summary

Synopsis

Photos

Cast

Jaroslav Mařan

V. Strcula

Ivana Benešová

Z. Brunclíková

L. Bouřilová

L. Indruchová

V. Landová

Jiřina Lexová

Michaela Prskavcová

Z. Svárovská

Lenka Vosátková

Jan Kolenatý

Karel Liška

Luděk Ludvík

Oldřich Martinovič

Karel Mašek

Rudolf Mošna

Bohumír Nekut

Ludvík Vidlák

Milena Koutná

V. Strnadová

Milan Procházka

Tomáš Svoboda (2)

Pavel Vlasák

Crew and creators

Director

Second Unit Director

Assistant Director

Screenstory

Screenplay

Shooting Script

Script Editor

Camera

Second Unit Photography

Camera Operator

Production Designer

Set Designer

Costume Designer

Costumes

Make-Up Artist

Film Editor

Sound Designer

Production Manager

Unit Production Manager

Unit Production Manager

Cooperation

Music

Music Composed by

Music Performed by

Music Conducted by

Production info

Original Title

English Title

Working Title

Category

Typology

Genre

Origin country

Copyright

Production Year

Premiere

Production