Career
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1984Production year
1983—1984Premiere
1 June 1985Runtime
89 minDirector
Julius MatulaCategory
filmGenre
psychologicalTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
KariéraCzech title
KariéraEnglish title
CareerSummary
The books of Jiří Švejda were the inspiration for three films of the 1980s that explored ethical dilemmas that faced workers during the reality of socialism. The psychological drama Kariéra (Career, 1984) was preceded by Požáry a spáleniště (Fires and Burnt Out Places, 1980) and followed by Havárie (Accident, 1985). The main character of Kariéra, directed by Július Matula and inspired by Švejda’s 1973 book Dva tisíce světelných let (Two Thousand Light Years), is chemistry drop-out Tomáš, returning home to northern Bohemia following the completion of his military service. He successfully applies for a job in a local chemical factory that he is neither qualified nor skilled enough to perform. He progressively clashes with his parents and his wife before finally realising that life requires a more solid foundation than excessive self-confidence… The environs of a northern Bohemian chemical plant unwittingly depict the gloomy reality of the time; it was a location also used six years later by Tomáš Vorel in his generational musical (or “rhythmical” picture) Kouř (Smoke, 1990). The film has an appealingly talented cast, led by Martin Stropnický and Kateřina Lojdová.
Synopsis
Karel Kubát, the successful director of the Globus printing works, discovers on his fiftieth birthday that he has a serious heart defect. This dismal news causes him to take stock of his life. In his thoughts he returns to key situations in which he gradually changed his character and life orientation. After the First World War he found a steady job at Globus in a subordinate position. When, after a time, he was given his first real opportunity, he decided to take it without hesitation. He made an unprosperous filial company much more efficient which, however, also led to the suicide of the branch head. Kubát was promoted nevertheless and his steep rise in the company began. It came first before everything else and ultimately cost him his marriage to the principled Pavla. Kubát married again, this time the daughter of the managing director of Globus, and after some time he found himself in his father-in-law's place. He became the head of the company and now does what he chooses, but he is alone, without friendship or love. He suffers a crisis and when he chances upon the house of his first wife, he is crushed by the memories this evokes. He dies in the environment which he once abandoned for the sake of his career.
Photos
Cast
Martin Stropnický
chemik Tomáš Bayer
Kateřina Lojdová
Voice by Jarmila Švehlová
Ivona, Tomášova manželka
Marek Vašut
automechanik Petr Prouza
Martina Gasparovičová
gymnastka Miluška
Jana Štěpánková
Bayerová, Tomášova matka
Josef Langmiler
Jan Bayer, Tomášův otec
Jiří Tomek
zelinář František Grešl, Ivonin otec
Jaroslava Tichá
Grešlová, Ivonina matka
Helga Matulová
inženýrka Horáčková
Ladislav Mrkvička
inženýr Šítek, bývalý manžel Horáčkové
Alois Švehlík
mistr Bodlák
Adolf Filip
mistr Viktor Dusil
Břetislav Slováček
hudebník Dušan
Ondřej Vetchý
dělník Tonda
Věra Budilová
starší referentka osobního oddělení
Vlastimil Čaněk
vedoucí osobního oddělení Procházka
Karel Urbánek
náměstek Plechatý
Jindřich Hinke
praporčík Olda Rajšner
Radka Dulíková
mladší referentka Maruška
Jana Kulendová
prodavačka Majka
Hana Packertová
sekretářka
Věra Hájková (2)
Dana
Peter Gál
Franta
Karel Greif
šermíř
Jan Bártů
šermíř Honza
Karel Bártů
trenér
Romana Kvapilíková
učnice
Petra Koželuhová
učnice
Miloslav Homola
soused Václav
Lena Birková
Václavova žena
Renata Mašková
Věra
Zdeněk Podhůrský
Pepek
Miloš Vavruška
hlasatel
Oldřich Velen
strýc
Jan Balzer
doktor, Petrův zákazník
E. Blažíčková
hudebnice
Jaroslav Devera
hudebník
Vojtěch Gadžor
hudebník
Laco Gejza
hudebník
Petr Kolář (2)
hudebník
Andrea Říhová
hudebnice
Indira Smékalová
hudebnice
A. Vondráčková
hudebnice
E. Walter
hudebník
Karel Jaroš
rozhodčí šermu
Jaroslav Tomsa
šermíř
Tomáš Lochman
kluk šermíř
Pavel Myslík
přiopilý mladík
Josef Vršecký
trenér Dukly
Zdeněk Skalický
údržbář
Petr Drozda
rváč
Vladimír Kaisr
rváč
Miroslav Lahoda
rváč
František Stupka
rváč
Tomáš Tintěra
muž v obleku
Jiří Kraus
dubl za Martina Stropnického
Dubbing
Vlastimil Zavřel
hlas historického šermíře
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Vít Horálek, Zdeněk Podhola
Continuity
Based on
Jiří Švejda (Dva tisíce světelných let – román)
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Bedřich Čermák, Rudolf Beneš, Jaroslav Lehman
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Cooperation
Hana Suchá (klapka), Jiří Kučera (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Songs
Stavěli jsme dům
Song Composer Dežo Ursiny
Writer of Lyrics Vladimír Poštulka
Singer Dežo UrsinyMartin Stropnický
Já už jdu
Song Composer Mya SimilleGilles PeramMichael Eugene Delancray
Writer of Lyrics František Ringo Čech
Singer Martin Stropnický
Bílá královna
Song Composer Pavel Vaculík
Writer of Lyrics Jan Krůta
Singer Petr KotvaldStanislav Hložek
Holky z naší školky
Song Composer Karel Vágner
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Žák
Singer Petr KotvaldStanislav Hložek
Snad jsem to zavinil já
Song Composer Petr Janda
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Chrastina
Singer OlympicPetr Janda
Boršická polka
Song Composer Josef Řepa
Writer of Lyrics Josef Řepa
Singer kapela Moravanka
Production info
Original Title
Kariéra
Czech Title
Kariéra
English Title
Career
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
psychological
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1984
Production Year
1983—1984
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 17 August 1983
start of filming 29 September 1983
technical Screenplay approved 21 October 1983
end of filming 24 April 1984
projection approval 8 June 1984
Premiere
premiere 1 June 1985 /unsuitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
5. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina, Miloslav Vydra (vedoucí 5. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
89 min
Original length in metres
2 470 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 23. festival českých a slovenských filmů Praha
1985
Praha / Czechoslovakia
