The Loser’s Rostrum

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1988

Production year

1987—1988

Premiere

1 November 1988

Runtime

112 min

Category

film

Genre

sport

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionlong

Original title

Stupně poražených

Czech title

Stupně poražených

English title

The Loser’s Rostrum

Summary

This 1988 film from director Július Matula offers audiences a glimpse into the world of the pentathlon. In an effort to present a slightly critical view of top-level sport, this drama tells the story of a world championship failure caused by a hasty change of trainer. Experienced trainer Pour has been demoted to serving as a mere assistant under ambitious trainer Tomšovský. But while Tomšovský over-exerts his charges, Pour, who maintains the respect of some of the athletes, continues to secretly train the talented Tomáš Hakl. But in the end, it is the greedy sports functionaries who have the final say... Among others, Matula’s film sees actors Marek Vašut and Ondřej Vetchý put through their paces. Tomšovský is portrayed by Jiří Štěpnička, while the part of the more sensible trainer goes to Jaroslav Tomsa. Jan Hartl plays a young filmmaker, recording the goings-on at the US World Championships.

Synopsis

The team of modern pentathlonists lost at the world championship in France. Although it is no tragedy to the coach Pour, the functionaries Liška and Lála feel their privileges are at risk. They therefore replace Pour with the ambitious methodist Tomšovský, who is vigorous and ruthless enough but does not have much experience. Pour is offered the position of Tomšovský's assistant. From the very beginning, Tomšovský keeps introducing various novelties and is not even ashamed to snoop on his athletes. But he mainly overtaxes his racers during their training sessions. Later, he excludes Vilda Staněk and Tomáš Hakl from the team. Tomáš does not give up and trains with Pour who eventually decides to leave the team after the constant conflicts. All the events concerning the training sessions are followed by a young filmmaker Martin and his camera, and the young man also records some discussions. Dissatisfaction begins to rise amongst the boys and it sometimes even results in quarrels or even fights. Several racers perform disappointingly at the national championship and Tomáš Hakl – previously fired by Tomšovský – is nominated to go to the world championship which is to be held in America. Liška "slaughters" Tomšovský but he, however, does not achieve his goal of heading the Czechoslovak team at the world championship. Eventually, only one functionary, the big wig Lála, accompanies the racers to America due to economic reasons.

Cast

Bohumil Starnovský

pětibojař Karel Patera

Marek Vašut

pětibojař Vilda Staněk

Andrea Švehelková

Irena, Karlova přítelkyně

Ondřej Vetchý

pětibojař Jirka Krob alias Mucinko

Ľubica Mruškovičová

Vlasta, Jirkova žena

Bronislav Ohrablo

pětibojař Fero Janečka

Daniel Žák

pětibojař Tonda Urban

Jiří Štěpnička

trenér Václav Tomšovský

Oldřich Slavík

vedoucí reprezentace pětibojařů Liška

Helga Čočková

Urbanová, matka Tondy

Josef Větrovec

sportovní funkcionář Lála

Jaroslav Tomsa

trenér Pour

Jan Bártů

asistent trenéra Poura Olda Vondráček

Jan Hartl

mladý filmař Martin Rovný

Pavla Karnovská

atletka Dana

Karel Greif

pětibojař Saša Balvín

Radek Líbal

pětibojař Jarda Forst

Tomáš Lochman

pětibojař Tomáš Hakl

Yvetta Blanarovičová

Janečková, Ferova žena

Dana Bartůňková

Marta Hornofová, Karlova přítelkyně

Kryštof Pumprla

Michal, Martin syn

Pavel Taussig

psycholog

Julius Matula

režisér na stadionu

Jitka Asterová

barmanka Eva, Vildova žena

Václav Mareš

profesor VŠ

Jiří Vondráček

Urban, Tondův otec

Alžbeta Barthová

tchyně Janečka

Silvie Tikovská

Lída

Marcela Martínková

Paterova matka

Hana Čížková (2)

Paterova sestra

Boris Farkaš

Ferův známý v Bratislavě

Alena Hessová

zdravotní sestra

Peter Gál

dr. Kováč

Eva Vlachová

sousedka Nýčová

Martina Jirotková

dívka z reklamy

Zdeněk Podhůrský

student František, Karlův spolubydlící

Zdeněk Matěcha

vychovatel

Jaroslav Šanda

traktorista

S. Ševčíková

Věra, Tondova dívka

A. Pečenka

reportér

MUDr. M. Kostelka

Crew and creators

Second Unit Director

Irena Pavlásková

Assistant Director

Oskar Reif, Ivana Adamovská

Screenstory

Julius Matula

Shooting Script

Julius Matula

Director of Photography

Jaromír Šofr

Second Unit Photography

F. A. Brabec

Camera Operator

Martin Duba, Milan Lekič

Production Designer

Jindřich Goetz

Assistent Production Designer

Václav Litoš, František Vokřál

Set Designer

Lubomír Kafka, Vladimír Kvěch, Miloslav Dvořák

Film Editor

Dalibor Lipský

Sound Designer

Adolf Böhm

Assistant Sound Designer

Tomáš Potůček

Production Manager

Jan Syrový

Unit Production Manager

Stanislav Šafr, Helena Landovská, Jana Vocetková

Unit Production Manager

Soňa Nemcová, Václav Šeda, František Vláčil ml.

Consultant

Jan Bártů, Karel Bártů, dr. Jan Novotný

Cooperation

Soňa Nemcová (klapka), Karel Ješátko (fotograf), Vladimír Souček (fotograf), Jaroslav Trousil (fotograf)

Music

Music Composed by

Dežo Ursiny

Selected Music

Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle (La Marseillaise), Joseph Haydn

Music Performed by

skupina Provisorium (Music Conducted by Dežo Ursiny)

Songs

Stupně poražených

Song Composer Dežo Ursiny
Writer of Lyrics Pavel Kopta
Singer Karel ČernochPeter Lipa

Když byli Beatles lavinou

Song Composer Daniel Dobiáš
Writer of Lyrics Jan Krůta
Singer Dalibor Janda

Poupata

Song Composer František Janeček
Writer of Lyrics Jaroslav Machek
Singer Michal David

Okno mé lásky

Song Composer Petr Janda
Writer of Lyrics Zdeněk Rytíř
Singer Petr Janda

Production info

Original Title

Stupně poražených

Czech Title

Stupně poražených

English Title

The Loser’s Rostrum

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distribution

Genre

sport

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1988

Production Year

1987—1988

Production specifications

literary Screenplay approved 22 April 1987
technical Screenplay approved 24 July 1987
start of filming 16 August 1987
end of filming 20 January 1988
the first film copy approved 5 April 1988
projection approval 6 April 1988

Premiere

premiere 1 November 1988 /unsuitable for youths/

Creative Group

5. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupina, Miloslav Vydra (vedoucí 5. dramaturgicko-výrobní skupiny)

Technical info

Duration typology

feature film

Duration in minutes

112 min

Original length in metres

3 189 meters

Distribution carrier

16mm, 35mm

Aspect ratio

1:1,37

Colour

colour

Sound

sound

Sound system/format

mono

Versions

Czech

Dialogue languages

Czech, Slovak

Subtitles languages

without subtitles

Opening/End credits languages

Czech

Awards

Vítěz

Festival: 27. festival českých a slovenských filmů Mladá Boleslav

1989
Mladá Boleslav / Czechoslovakia
Milan Ležák

Vítěz

Festival: 27. festival českých a slovenských filmů Mladá Boleslav

1989
Mladá Boleslav / Czechoslovakia
Julius Matula