Director Milan Růžička is most visibly associated with the popular comedy Trhala fialky dynamitem (Cutting Violets with Dynamite, 1992) and the early days of the TV series Ulice (Street). But from 1960 to 1972, Růžička worked as an assistant director, screenwriter and director for Československé studio armádního filmu (Czechoslovak Army Film Studio) where he made more than 40 documentaries. He was also the screenwriter for a rather slanted drama dealing with air defence issues Vysoká modrá zeď (The High Blue Wall, 1973), set in the 1950s. The drama Pod nohama nebe (Sky under My Feet, 1983), an unwitting predecessor to the Hollywood blockbuster Top Gun (1986), also takes place among army pilots. The main protagonist of the narrative is rookie pilot Olda Raška who is prevented from the faultless performance of his duties by an emotional crisis. With the help of his understanding superiors he is able to overcome his personal issues. The lead role in this professionally made film with engaging aerial footage is delivered by Ondřej Pavelka.
A military aircraft troop is equipped with new planes. One of them is successfuly tested by Lieutenant Colonel Loák. Soon after, Loák learns during the regular obligatory medical examinatoin that he is suffering from a cardiac defect which does not threaten his life but excludes any further supersonic flying. An alert is announced during bad weather. On Loák's intercession, one of the three selected recruits is Lieutenant Olda Raka - a talented pilot, but also a self-assured jack-a-dandy. Just before the start, his girlfriend, a pretty air traffic controller Květa, informs him that they are going to have a baby. Olda's response, however, is not quite positive. He pinched Květa from his friend Petr, and although he loves her dearly, he definitely does not want any obligations yet. He contemplates the problem up in the air and gets into a situation which makes him think that he is threatened by a breakdown in his plane. He is saved by Loák whose precise walkie-talkie instructions safely navigate him on landing. Olda becomes pathologically scared of flying. The troop's doctor Horák knows that only the fastest possible return to the joystick can help. The distressed Olda gets a sick note and strenuously tries to recall everything that had preceded the flight. Loák, despite his own situation, finds some time for a discussion with Olda, whose father had died in the air. Květa decides to keep the baby. Loák accompanies Olda during his next flight. He helps the young man release his fear and also takes over control of the plane for a moment and for the last time. After landing, Olda proposes to Květa.
The movie includes unique aerial shots as well as entire sequences from the airport background.
podplukovník František Lošťák
poručík Olda Raška
dispečerka nadrotmistryně Květa Zahradníková
technik letky Petr Říha
velitel letky major Josef Levý
plukovník, velitel pluku
MUDr. Horák, lékař jednotky
kapitánka zvaná Matka
podplukovník Tesař
dispečer podplukovník Mašek
profesor z IKEMu
náčelník Ústavu leteckého zdravotn
Jana, Lošťákova žena
Jiřina Rašková, Oldova matka
Voice by Petr Skarke
pilot Zdeněk
Darina, květina kamarádka
meteoroložka
četař, pomocník lékaře
Blanka, Lošťákova dcera
náčelník štábu
náčelník KOK
letovod
manželka letovoda
dozorčí pluku
biletář
biletář
manželka Levého
frajer na diskotéce
pilot Joža
pilot Jindra
pilot Palo
pilot Jirka
pilot Boris
planšetista
manželka Tesaře
dozorčí ILZ
číšník
muzikant, člen skupiny Kantoři
muzikant, člen skupiny Kantoři
muzikantka, členka skupiny Kantoři
muzikant, člen skupiny Kantoři
člen akrobatické letecké skupiny
člen akrobatické letecké skupiny
člen akrobatické letecké skupiny
člen akrobatické letecké skupiny
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
dubl – pilot
miminko
Vítězslav Kulle
Josef Sandr, Jaromír Flek
plk. Ing. Josef Pavlík, Milan Růžička
Karel Kracík, Miloš Sršeň, Milan Šefrna, František Struska
Jarmila Benešová (2), Viktor Schwarcz
genmjr. Ing. Jaroslav Štecha, mjr. René Toman, nprap. Růžena Danielová
P. Čiperová (klapka), Vladimír Souček (fotograf), Jiří Horák, Ministerstvo národní obrany ČSSR, příslušníci ČSLA – letectva
FISYO (Music Conducted by Štěpán Koníček)
Singer skupina Kantoři
Song Composer Miro Žbirka
Writer of Lyrics Kamil Peteraj
Singer Miro ŽbirkaMarika Gombitová
Pod nohama nebe
Pod nohama nebe
The Sky under My Feet
Modrá štafeta
film
featuretheatrical distribution
psychological
Czechoslovakia
1983
1983
literary Screenplay approved 22 June 1982
start of filming 26 January 1983
technical Screenplay approved 7 February 1983
end of filming 12 September 1983
projection approval 28 September 1983
withdrawal from distribution 31 December 1989
premiere 1 May 1984 /unsuitable for youths/
5. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina, Miloslav Vydra (vedoucí 5. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny)
feature film
92 min
2 638 meters
16mm, 35mm
1:1,37
colour
sound
mono
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech
Festival: 22. festival československých filmů Banská Bystrica
1984
Banská Bystrica / Czechoslovakia
kolektiv tvůrců filmu