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.
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.
herečka Xena Longenová
malíř Emil Artur Longen
herec Marek, Xenin otec
herec Rojko
majitelka mandlu Peková, Markova žena
divadelní ředitelka Hermína Arnoldová
herec Vedra
garderobiérka Blaženka Kopečková
novinář Egon Erwin Kisch
šéf činohry Národního divadla
intendant Národního divadla
inspicient Dinter
Havránková
kavárník Josef Waltner
prostitutka Luci
prostitutka Frona
výpravčí
herec Suk
Vláďa
policajt
kritik Hugo
předseda nebeského senátu v Tonce Šibenici
člen nebeského senátu v Tonce Šibenici
člen nebeského senátu v Tonce Šibenici
zapisovatel senátu v Tonce Šibenici
policejní komisař Haloun
rekvizitářka Božka
tanečnice Emča Revoluce
tanečník v kavárně Montmartre
továrník Rubín
Adolf
umělec v Montmartru
umělec
umělec
umělec
umělec
umělec
herečka Balounová
strážmistr
sklepník
četník
protestující muž v kavárně
dáma se stehnem, manželka protestujícího muže
Lachman
fotograf
herec
herec
herečka
herečka
herečka
herečka Kautská
herec Zrubecký
inspektor
Přáda
sousedka
sousedka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
baletka
stařena
dáma
dáma
dáma
dáma
dáma
dáma
dáma
hudebník
hudebník
hudebník
hudebník
hudebník
tanečnice v Montmartru
hudebník v Montmartru
hudebník v Montmartru
hudebník v Montmartru
hudebník v Montmartru
hudebník v Montmartru
dubl za Hradiláka
Miroslav Vaněk (2), Věra Vláčilová
Bedřich Čermák, Rudolf Beneš, Josef Müller
Karel Prchal, Vladimír Tišer
Václav Veruněk
Kateřina Nečesalová, Vladimír Souček, Alena Chvojková, Olga Rosenfelderová
Jacques Offenbach (Hoffmannovy povídky /Les contes d'Hoffmann/)
Ladislav Štaidl (Orchestr Ladislava Štaidla), Milivoj Uzelac (FISYO)
Teď ještě ne, Já jsem viděl hezkou holku, Ze všech stran zaznívá Madelon vítězná, Nešťastný šafářův dvoreček (/parafráze Nešťastný císařův dvoreček/)
Ladislav Štaidl (Teď ještě ne), Jára Beneš (Já jsem viděl hezkou holku)
Karel Steklý (Teď ještě ne), Hana Hegerová (Teď ještě ne), Karel Tobis (Já jsem viděl hezkou holku), Václav Mírovský (Já jsem viděl hezkou holku), Václav Špilar (Já jsem viděl hezkou holku)
Hana Hegerová (Teď ještě ne), Antonín Molčík (Já jsem viděl hezkou holku), Petr Svoboda (Ze všech stran zaznívá Madelon vítězná), Antonín Molčík (Nešťastný šafářův dvoreček )
Petr Jirsa
Každému jeho nebe
A Heaven for Everyone
film
feature
drama, biography
Czechoslovakia
1981
1981
7 May 1982
long
88 min
Czech
Festival: 20. festival českých a slovenských filmů Ústí nad Labem
1982
Ústí nad Labem / Czechoslovakia
Jaroslava Obermaierová