Anthony’s Chance
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1986Production year
1985—1986Premiere
1 November 1986Runtime
76 minDirector
Vít OlmerCategory
filmGenre
drama, psychologicalTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Antonyho šanceCzech title
Antonyho šanceEnglish title
Anthony’s ChanceSummary
In 1986, director Vít Olmer created a highly popular yet uncompromising depiction of the gloomy realities of the “normalisation” era. Young widower Antony (Antonín Paleček) is the protagonist of this psychological drama with social undertones. After suffering the tragic death of his first wife, he is pursuing the dream of a happy family life with his new spouse Marta, but it is all in vain... He is resolved to be a good father to his little daughter and he aspires to lead an honest life – but those around him, including Marta, have no understanding at all for his endeavours. The down-to-earth narrative, delivered in a special, dynamic visual style, was an opportunity for the lesser known actor Luboš Veselý – usually seen on stage – to excel in the lead role. Veronika Jeníková, who played the part of Marta, took on an almost antithetical role a year later when starring as prostitute T-Shirt Eve in Olmer’s tragicomedy about racketeers pulling scams with foreign currencies, Bony a klid (Big Money).
Synopsis
Anthony's wife died in a car accident. The car was being driven by Anthony, but it was not his fault. He has a nervous breakdown after the tragedy and ends up in a mental hospital. His little daughter Bára meanwhile stays with the Zachars, parents of Anthony's late wife. The Zachars keep blaming him for killing their daughter. After his return from the therapy, Anthony wants to take care of the daughter himself – but he needs a woman to help. In Náchod, he meets a textile worker, Marta. He spends a night with her and proposes to her the next day. Although surprised, Marta accepts. They leave together for Prague and get married. After the marriage, however, Marta finds out that Anthony solely wanted a child minder for his daughter. She wants to leave, but eventually stays and begins to take care of Bára. Anthony works as an unskilled labourer at a goods station. The family constantly has a thin time, but Anthony refuses any help from the Zachars and he also refuses to take part in robbing the wagons. Marta hates their poverty-stricken life and leaves Anthony. Her friend Irena mentions that she could make a fortune on spending a night with a Western foreigner from time to time, but Marta cannot. The railways investigate the robberies. Sidekicks Mirek a Pako try to kill Anthony for fear that he might disclose them, but Anthony fortunately escapes the fight with only a hurt leg. The Zachars again tend to Bára during his treatment. Marta finds herself a job and returns to Anthony and Bára.
Film online
Photos
Cast
Luboš Veselý
Antonín Paleček zvaný Antony
Veronika Jeníková
Marta Šilhavá
Barbora Straková
Bára, Antonyho dcera
Jana Švandová
barmanka Irena
Milada Ježková
sousedka Valoušková
Karel Brožek
Zachar, Antonyho tchán
Valentina Thielová
Zacharová, Antonyho tchyně
František Švihlík
Mirek, šéf skladníků
Václav Knop
JUDr. Osten
Ivona Krajčovičová
prostitutka Květa
František Řehák
strýc
Franta Kocourek
skladník Pako
Jan Hraběta
skladník Bandaska
Ladislav Gerendáš
skladník Drezína
Viktor Nejedlý
vrátný Kobes
Jiří Bartoška
on sám, herec
Boca Abrhámová
Voice by Marcela Martínková
ředitelka mateřské školky
Zdeněk David
kamarádíček
Taťána Puttová
paní na hlídání
Jana Altmannová
pokladní v sámošce
Šizejasu Fudžijoši
Irenin soused, cizinec
Tošiko Fudžijoši
sousedova manželka
Irena Hahnová
Italka
Miloslav Kopečný
muž s kravatou
Ladislav Lahoda
kudrnáč/člen výjezdové hlídky VB
Jaroslav Tomsa
kolotočář/člen výjezdové hlídky VB
Josef Vaculík
předseda poroty
Gabriela Wilhelmová
prodavačka v drogerii
Jana Šedová
prodavačka v drogerii
Petr Weig
Němec
Igor Smržík
Němec
Jaroslav Someš
vrchní v restauraci
Vladimír Švabík
železničář
Markéta Sodomková
porotkyně
Jaroslav Vavřík
náborový pracovník
Věra Laňková
vrátná v ubytovně
Josef Prihara
diskžokej
Antonín Mikulka
klavírista
Jan Mikšík
skladník s fretkou
Jan Lorenc
asistent
Kateřina Pindejová
dívka
Alena Štréblová
dívka
Jitka Svobodová
lyžařka
Monika Vedrová
lyžařka
Zdena Lukášová
svačinářka
Martina Menšíková
spolubydlící v natáčkách
Petr Gottlieb
vekslák v baru
Ľudovít Baláž
dirigent
Pavol Baláž
hudebník
Andrej Baláž
hudebník
Viliam Karvay
hudebník
Josef Pokluda
hudebník
Emil Taragoš
hudebník
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Petr Slabý, Dalibor Fiksa, Magda Vodičková
Screenstory
Screenplay
Shooting Script
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Ivan Břešťák, Ivo Černý, Ladislav Rada, František Struska
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Stunts
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Vlasta Synkulová, Eva Kulhánková
Unit Production Manager
Cooperation
Alice Ronovská (klapka), Miroslav Jirsa (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Jiří Stivín, Collegium Quodlibet (Music Conducted by Jiří Stivín)
Songs
Zvonky štěstí
Song Composer Jiří Zmožek
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Rytíř
Singer Karel GottDara Rolins
Když mě brali za vojáka
Song Composer Jaromír Nohavica
Sejdeme se u Rotta
Song Composer Jiří KalešMilan Dufek
Writer of Lyrics Milan Dufek
Singer Rangers
Pozri
Song Composer Miro Žbirka
Writer of Lyrics Miro Žbirka
Singer Miro Žbirka
Múr našich lások
Song Composer Miro Žbirka
Writer of Lyrics Kamil Peteraj
Singer Miro Žbirka
Zajíček v své jamce
Singer dětský sbor
Production info
Original Title
Antonyho šance
Czech Title
Antonyho šance
English Title
Anthony’s Chance
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
drama, psychological
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1986
Production Year
1985—1986
Production specifications
literary Screenplay approved 18 September 1985
start of filming 21 October 1985
technical Screenplay approved 4 November 1985
end of filming 9 April 1986
projection approval 16 May 1986
Premiere
premiere 1 November 1986 /unsuitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
6. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina Tvůrčí mládí, Jan Vild (vedoucí 6. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny Tvůrčí mládí)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
76 min
Original length in metres
2 162 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
Event: 15. koszalinské filmové setkání Mládež a film Koszalin
1987
Koszalin / Poland
Vítěz
Festival: 25. festival českých a slovenských filmů Bratislava
1987
Bratislava / Czechoslovakia
Rudolf Ráž
Vítěz
Festival: 25. festival českých a slovenských filmů Bratislava
1987
Bratislava / Czechoslovakia
Ota Kopřiva
