A Heaven for Everyone
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1981Production year
1981Premiere
7 May 1982Runtime
88 minDirector
Karel SteklýCategory
filmGenre
drama, biographyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Každému jeho nebeCzech title
Každému jeho nebeEnglish title
A Heaven for EveryoneSummary
During the 1970s and 80s, Czech filmmakers often undertook trips back in time to the era of the First Republic. Mainly focusing on apolitical subjects, most of their films failed to truly evoke this early 20th century age because they suffered from insufficient production values. This drama from director Karel Steklý relates the story of Xena Longenová (real name Polyxena Marková, 1891-1928). Even wooed by the National Theatre, the celebrated cabaret and theatre actress ended up committing suicide, chiefly the result of a turbulent relationship with fiery playwright, actor and painter Emil Artur Longen. Serving as writer-director, Steklý brings to life the atmosphere of interwar Prague's small “b” bohemian scene. On the one side, this age is associated with the world of folk cabaret, and on the other with the rise of avant-garde art. Rather than a complex analysis of the era, the film primarily focuses on the relationship between Xena and Emil. Jaroslava Obermaierová sparkles in the lead role. Emil is portrayed by Zdeněk Hradilák, and journalist Egon Erwin Kisch is played by Ladislav Potměšil.
Synopsis
Young actor Rojko learns about the suicide of the actress Xena Longenová. He is recalling, at her dead body, how he used to meet her over the course of years. – During the Rojko's first pitch in a small city, Xena came for a beneficiary performance of the strolling theatre belonging to her father. Here she met the actor, theatre director and painter, Artur Longen, who attracted her. Longen liked Xena too. After some time they moved in together. But their common life was not harmonic; they often had financial problems, as Artur was a hothead and drunkard. Xena dreamt of big roles in modern theatre, but she had to do with average offers. One day she came into the way of a raid for prostitutes and was arrested with them. She was helped out of prison by the journalist, Egon Erwin Kisch. Xena told him about her experiences in the prison. At her instigation Kisch wrote a theatre play called Ascension of Tonka Gallows for the Revolutionary Scene. Xena had a great success in the main role. Longen was jealous of her success, especially when she got an offer to play in the National Theatre. He was not able to overcome his creative crises and he left Xena. Due to fussy narrow-minded reasons, she did not get the engagement. She stayed alone, without job and money and, therefore, being desperate, she jumped out of the window. Her father sadly states about her death that his daughter took everything too truly – both art and life.
Photos
Cast
Jaroslava Obermaierová
herečka Xena Longenová
Zdeněk Hradilák
malíř Emil Artur Longen
Miloslav Holub
herec Marek, Xenin otec
Petr Svoboda
herec Rojko
Nina Popelíková
majitelka mandlu Peková, Markova žena
Antonie Hegerliková
divadelní ředitelka Hermína Arnoldová
Karel Šebesta
herec Vedra
Marie Motlová
garderobiérka Blaženka Kopečková
Ladislav Potměšil
novinář Egon Erwin Kisch
Josef Vinklář
šéf činohry Národního divadla
Milan Riehs
intendant Národního divadla
Otakar Brousek
inspicient Dinter
Karolina Slunéčková
Havránková
Antonín Molčík
kavárník Josef Waltner
Stanislava Bartošová
prostitutka Luci
Emma Černá
prostitutka Frona
Jiří Bruder
výpravčí
Soběslav Sejk
herec Suk
Jiří Krampol
Vláďa
Bohuslav Ličman
policajt
Jiří Lír
kritik Hugo
Bedřich Prokoš
předseda nebeského senátu v Tonce Šibenici
Leoš Kaltofen
člen nebeského senátu v Tonce Šibenici
Jan Skopeček
člen nebeského senátu v Tonce Šibenici
Miroslav Mokošín
zapisovatel senátu v Tonce Šibenici
Jan Teplý
policejní komisař Haloun
Alena Frimlová
rekvizitářka Božka
Helena Postránecká
tanečnice Emča Revoluce
Frank Towen
tanečník v kavárně Montmartre
Raoul Schránil
továrník Rubín
Zdeněk Kopal
Adolf
Marian Cingroš
umělec v Montmartru
Karel Hovorka
umělec
Dimitrij Kadrnožka
umělec
Jan Laibl
umělec
Miroslav Moravec
umělec
Eduard Pavlíček
umělec
Miloslava Ebrová
herečka Balounová
František Kubíček
strážmistr
Václav Hladík
sklepník
Josef Kettner
četník
Oldřich Velen
protestující muž v kavárně
Taťana Puttová
dáma se stehnem, manželka protestujícího muže
Jan Cmíral
Lachman
Václav Štekl
fotograf
Jiří Bukvaj
herec
Vladimír Navrátil
herec
Marie Podhorská
herečka
Nina Strnadová-Jarková
herečka
Regina Svobodová
herečka
Jožka Walterová-Duchková
herečka Kautská
Václav Štercl
herec Zrubecký
Rudolf Vodrážka
inspektor
Václav Stýblo
Přáda
Slávka Hamouzová
sousedka
Jindra Kvardová
sousedka
Saša Aišmanová
baletka
Olga Buzková
baletka
Karla Celerová
baletka
Jana Čepková
baletka
Květuše Homolová
baletka
Jana Hřebejková
baletka
Jana Jelenová
baletka
Jana Kittnarová-Čižinská
baletka
Ivana Krystlíková
baletka
Libuše Kudláčková
baletka
Marcela Loučímová
baletka
Eva Merunková
baletka
Irena Pokorná
baletka
Eva Polášková
baletka
Jana Tomicová
baletka
Stanislava Tomšovská
baletka
Jana Robenková
stařena
Zdena Bumbová
dáma
Renata Honzovičová
dáma
Dagmar Hýblová
dáma
Jana Kovaříková
dáma
Marcela Niklová
dáma
Hana Pátková
dáma
Miroslava Švihelová
dáma
Zdeněk Branda
hudebník
Vlastimil Cirman
hudebník
Miloslav Kulich
hudebník
Václav Podobský
hudebník
Josef Pokluda
hudebník
Jiřina Havlová
tanečnice v Montmartru
Zdeněk Hudák
hudebník v Montmartru
Jaroslav Mejzlík
hudebník v Montmartru
Bedřich Rehberger
hudebník v Montmartru
Vladimír Tymich
hudebník v Montmartru
Ivan Vašek
hudebník v Montmartru
Jindřich Sejk
dubl za Hradiláka
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Miroslav Vaněk (2), Věra Vláčilová
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Script Editor
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Set Designer
Bedřich Čermák, Rudolf Beneš, Josef Müller
Costume Designer
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Karel Prchal, Vladimír Tišer
Unit Production Manager
Václav Veruněk
Cooperation
Kateřina Nečesalová, Vladimír Souček, Alena Chvojková, Olga Rosenfelderová
Music
Music Composed by
Selected Music
Jacques Offenbach (Hoffmannovy povídky /Les contes d'Hoffmann/)
Music Performed by
Orchestr Ladislava Štaidla (Music Conducted by Ladislav Štaidl), FISYO
Choreographer
Petr Jirsa
Songs
Teď ještě ne
Songwriter Ladislav Štaidl
Writer of Lyrics Karel SteklýHana Hegerová
Singer Hana Hegerová
Já jsem viděl hezkou holku
Songwriter Jára Beneš
Writer of Lyrics Karel TobisVáclav MírovskýVáclav Špilar
Singer Antonín Molčík
Ze všech stran zaznívá Madelon vítězná
Singer Petr Svoboda
Nešťastný šafářův dvoreček //parafráze Nešťastný císařův dvoreček//
Singer Antonín Molčík
Production info
Original Title
Každému jeho nebe
Czech Title
Každému jeho nebe
English Title
A Heaven for Everyone
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama, biography
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1981
Production Year
1981
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 21 April 1981
start of filming 21 May 1981
technical Screenplay approved 8 June 1981
end of filming 23 October 1981
projection approval 13 November 1981
Premiere
premiere 7 May 1982
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
88 min
Original length in metres
2 503 meters
Distribution carrier
35mm
Versions
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 20. festival českých a slovenských filmů Ústí nad Labem
1982
Ústí nad Labem / Czechoslovakia
Jaroslava Obermaierová
