Snowdrops and Daredevils

Summary

The tragicomedy Sněženky a machři (Snowdrops and Daredevils, 1982) is one of several “youth” films directed by Karel Smyczek, based on a screenplay by Radek John and Ivo Pelant. This creative team, which had previously produced the successful teenage movies Jen si tak troche písknout (Just to Whistle a Bit, 1980) and Jako zajíci (Like Rabbits, 1981), draws its attentions to somewhat older heroes this time – a group of second-year elementary school students. Compulsory skiing training becomes a premature “rite of passage” both for pupils and their teachers. Among these is experienced professor Boženka, idealistic novice Hanka and the authoritative – and thus not very popular– head skiing instructor professor Karda. He takes his good-looking daughter Karda to the mountains and class rebel Viky Cabadaj tries his best to seduce her. Cabadaj and his friends Karel and Radek form part of the skiing “daredevil” A-team, while the girls’ B-team – the “Snowdrops” – struggles to merely survive in the winter mountains. But far more important are the relationships between the pupils and also the teachers. As soon as the watchful Karda leaves the kids alone in their lodge, an alcohol-fuelled party begins in the boiler room that threatens to spiral out of control. Certain elements from the film are inspired by Radek John’s book Džínový svět (Jean World), as was also the case with Just to Whistle a Bit. But the end effect is an entertaining intergenerational comedy replete with dark undertones. The film is a relatively rare example of a Czech motion picture to have a sequel made many years later: Sněženky a machři po 25 letech (Snowdrops and Daredevils 25 Years Later, 2008) directed by Viktor Tauš. Michal Suchánek (Karel), Václav Kopta (Radek) and Jan Antonín Duchoslav (Viky) take the leading roles. Eva Jeníčková stars as Marika, while naïve professor Hanka is embodied by Veronika Freimanová. Radoslav Brzobohatý plays the part of the dreaded Karda.

Synopsis