Basically Normal
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1981Production year
1981Premiere
12 March 1982Runtime
88 minDirector
Otakar FukaCategory
filmGenre
comedyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
V podstatě jsme normálníCzech title
V podstatě jsme normálníEnglish title
Basically NormalSummary
Two years after his satirical comedy Pátek není svátek (Friday Is No Holiday, 1979) director Otakar Fuka made this sequel in which members of the Novák family attempt to improve their position on the social ladder. The screenplay is once again a joint effort between the director and Jiří Just. The sequel makes it clear from the start that improving their country cottage is no longer enough for the Nováks. Instead, the ambitious Eva (Jorga Kotrbová) draws her husband (Petr Kostka) into an intricate web of shady wheeling and dealing. As the head of a new research institute department, Novák becomes entangled in several behind-the-scenes machinations with foreign company Djungarden. Only narrowly does he avoid falling prey to cunning profiteer Mazáč… Petr Nárožný takes the role of Mazáč in this light-hearted film. Dagmar Patrasová assumes the role of deceitful secretary Ilona. The part of an alleged West German (and salacious) company representative goes to Svatopluk Beneš.
Synopsis
Karel Novák was appointed as the head of a research institute's new department. His ambitious wife Eva, convinced about the assertiveness of her husband, decides to employ this opportunity for her social upswing. She immediately hands in her notice at work and turns the flat into a hair dressing salon. She also begins establishing useful connections, getting most acquainted with the rich Mazáč family. This helps her sail into the system of mutual bigger and smaller favours, even dragging her totally unaware husband into it. Mazáč promised Karel a contact in a foreign company, Djungarden, and its representative. Collaboration with the company would be beneficial for the research institute. But Mazáč introduces Karel to his German friend named Hans instead, who has nothing in common with the company. The encounter of the two men is preceded by a meeting with Hans's reported assistant Ilona, for whom Novák buys an expensive necklace on Mazáč's advice. Hans likes Karel's wife Eva, whose image was used for an Elite stockings ad. Eva, however, calls the police to save herself from the passionate Hans. At the police station, she meets Karel who was detained by the police patrol on his way from Ilona for being drunk. The research institute signs the contract with the company Djungarden. Karel finds out to his surprise that he has actually never seen its representative Hans. Back at home, he resolutely claims that he himself, not Eva, will decide about family affairs from now on.
Film online
Photos
Cast
Petr Kostka
Karel Novák
Jorga Kotrbová
Eva, Novákova žena
Magda Reifová
Mirka, dcera Novákových
Magdalena Bičíková
Jarka, dcera Novákových
Zdeněk Dítě
ředitel Růžička
Josef Vinklář
masér Zdeněk Beznoska
Zita Kabátová
zákaznice Kunešová
Slávka Budínová
hospodyně Preichingerová
Petr Nárožný
Ing. Erich Mazáč
Marta Richterová
Monika, Mazáčova žena
Vlastimil Fišar
docent Šiška
Dagmar Patrasová
sekretářka Ilona Dvořáčková
Jiří Knot
účastník školení Ing. Anděl
František Filipovský
dědeček Knotek
Svatopluk Beneš
Hans Endmayer
Julius Hirsch
velitel hlídky VB
Jiří Lír
dr. Skřivánek
Jana Synková
osvětová pracovnice Skřivánková
Miriam Kantorková
zelinářka Vlasta Schwarzhuberová
Jiří Bruder
uhlíř Schwarzhuber, Vlastin muž
Marie Drahokoupilová
Voice by Jana Šulcová
Carmen Telekyová
Jana Švandová
účastnice školení Iva Volrábová
Bořivoj Navrátil
módní fotograf Boris Dembovski
Zdeněk Svěrák
organizátor školení
Pavel Vondruška
docent, lektor školení
Jiří Bukvaj
dr. Málek
Vladimír Hlavatý
zámecký zahradník
Vladimír Hrubý
soused Kýhos
Jana Viščaková
prostitutka v hotelu
Helena Růžičková
účastnice školení Rabiňáková
Gabriela Wilhelmová
účastnice školení Štefanová
Václav Štekl
lesník Choura
Jiří Sequens ml.
Mirčin kamarád Kabíček
Olga Michálková
sousedka Staňková
Stella Májová
tlumočnice
Drahomíra Fialková
prodavačka punčoch
Jan Kuželka
účastník školení Ing. Beneš
Karel Bělohradský
řidič kropicího auta
Zdeněk Podhůrský
příslušník VB
Jiří Schmiedt
příslušník VB
Roman Hemala
příslušník VB
Miloslav Štibich
tlumočník
Martin Otava
montér Gogol
Jaroslav Toms
zvukař
Zdeněk David
člen skupiny Disharmonic Nonet
Zdeněk Fornůsek
člen skupiny
Jaromír Honzák
člen skupiny
Jiří Koval
člen skupiny
Zdeněk Kratina
člen skupiny
Daniel Rous
člen skupiny
Martin Šulc
člen skupiny
Josef Střecha
recepční
František Jákl
jogín
Lidia Kravková
sekretářka
Libuše Štědrá
Blažíčková, Novákova kolegyně
Jaroslav Tomsa
figurant
Miroslav Jíra
figurant
Věra Kramešová
uklízečka
Dana Klossová
modelka Edita
Jan Laibl
dozorčí VB
Ladislav Lahoda
číšník
Irena Hahnová
modelka
Irena Berková
modelka
Miloslav Homola
státní úředník
Vladimír Navrátil
příslušník VB
Jiří Kraus
technik
Ludvík Wolf
technik
Ilona Jirotková
účastnice školení ve sprše
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
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Eva Charvátová, Iva Šetková
Unit Production Manager
Vojtěch Panáček
Cooperation
Renata Stádníková (klapka), Zdeněk Dukát (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Selected Music
Oskar Nedbal (Polská krev /Jsem dip, jsem dip, jsem diplomat/), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Malá noční hudba)
Music Performed by
FISYO (Music Conducted by Mario Klemens)
Songs
Jsem dip, jsem dip, jsem diplomat
Song Composer Oskar Nedbal
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Knittl
Singer František Filipovský
Medvědi nevědi
Song Composer Ivan Mládek
Writer of Lyrics Ivan Mládek
Singer Magdalena ReifováMagdalena Bičíková
Zmalovaná
Song Composer Jiří Ziembrowski
Writer of Lyrics Ivan Mládek
Singer Magdalena ReifováMagdalena BičíkováMartin Otava
Už troubějí na horách jeleni
Singer sbor
Production info
Original Title
V podstatě jsme normální
Czech Title
V podstatě jsme normální
English Title
Basically Normal
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1981
Production Year
1981
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 27 July 1980
start of filming 23 March 1981
technical Screenplay approved 13 April 1981
end of filming 19 October 1981
projection approval 13 November 1981
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1987
Premiere
premiere 12 March 1982 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Studio
Distribution
Creative Group
Dramaturgická skupina Miloše Brože, Miloš Brož (vedoucí dramaturgické skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
88 min
Original length in metres
2 509 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,66, 1:2,35
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech, German
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
