Twelve Bars for Guitar
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1989Production year
1989Premiere
1 March 1990Runtime
80 minDirector
Drahomíra KrálováCategory
filmGenre
comedyTypology
featuretheatrical distributionlongOriginal title
Království za kytaruCzech title
Království za kytaruEnglish title
Twelve Bars for GuitarSummary
A number of Czechoslovak films present adolescent characters enamoured with the world of rock music. However, given the turbulent events of 1989, this contemporary tale from director Drahomíra Králová largely passed audiences by. The hero of this story is 16-year-old Hynek Engel, who wants to purchase his friend’s guitar so he can begin performing in a new band. He sets about trying to acquire the necessary 10,000 crowns via various schemes. Ten-year-old sister Adélka helps out by tap dancing in several pubs. But ultimately, the determined rocker is destined for disappointment – although the journey surprisingly brings Hynek closer to his father. The strong points of this sensitively made teenage comedy include realistic dialogue and convincing performances from lesser-known actors. These include Martin Kukla (Hynek), who would also later appear in the Věra Plívová-Šimková drama Houpačka (The Hammock, 1990). Magdaléna Učíková turns in a terrific performance as little Adélka, demonstrating a natural talent for comedy. This children’s film, which also documents the contemporary usage of the IQ 151 computer in schools, features an appearance from pop group Visací zámek (Hanging Lock).
Synopsis
The student Hynek Engel plays in a rock group on borrowed electric guitar, and he has a great success. After the concert he learns unpleasant news. The group falls apart and he has to return the guitar. He knows that without a decent instrument he cannot join any other group. A friend of his school mate Felix has a guitar for sale, but he wants for it ten thousand crowns within two months. Therefore Hynek starts hectically gathering money. He puts in the second hand store his old guitar, he is bargaining with his parents to give him money for Christmas. His parents disagree, and after all they could not give him so much anyway. The savings of his ten year old sister Adélka are neither enough. The siblings don't give in. Hynek works as a sweeper, he sells newspapers, and he plays in a folk band in a pub. When he tries to profiteer with ice hockey tickets he looses all. Adélka is doing better. She is singing in old clothes, playing an old guitar and tap-dancing in pubs. In the end she is arrested by police. Hynek and Adélka experience even more pleasant and unpleasant events, but finally they have almost five thousand crowns. They decide to pay an advance for the dreamed off guitar. However the owner disappoints them, he sold the guitar already. Hynek fights with him. For the saved up money he buys on the way home as a Christmas present expensive ski for his father, who has wished it for a long time. They are both convinced that Hynek will buy one day a quality guitar.
Photos
Cast
Martin Kukla
student Hynek Engel
Magdaléna Učíková
Adélka, Hynkova sestra
Lenka Termerová
maminka Engelová
Oldřich Vízner
tatínek Olda Engel
Monika Herbichová
Petra Spáčilová, Hynkova spolužačka
Martin France
Felix, Hynkův zámožný spolužák
Martin Učík
třídní profesor Marek
Magdalena Platzová
Vlaďka, prodavačka v bazaru
Tomáš Juřička
strážmistr VB
Marian Cingroš
Voice by Rudolf Pellar
starý harmonikář Bouše
Lubomír Bryg
vedoucí estrádní skupiny Dušek
Hana Kašparová
stárnoucí zpěvačka Lotka
Jaroslav Kříž
komik Štancl
Jana Smrčková
etnografka v muzeu
Jiří Engermayer
metař Jarda
Bohuslav Maršík
tlustý Němec v bazaru
Jiří Strach
spolužák Igor
Viktorie Knotková
uklízečka
Jiří D. Novotný
Alík Kučera, tatínkův spolužák
Rudolf Pellar
klavírista
Jana Robenková
stará žena
Miloslav Homola
zákazník na pošty
Jana Synková
profesorka
Miloslav Štibich
vedoucí bazaru
Gaston Šubert
otec na schůzkách/muž v autobusu
Vlasta Škampová
dirigentka hudební školy
Eva Čížkovská
číšnice na Syrovandě
Petr Zeman
Voice by Zdeněk Dušek
prodejce kytary Stratocaster
Dušan Konečný
taneční mistr
M. Tlachová
partnerka tanečního mistra
Eva Jílková
starší dáma
Renata Mašková
úřednice na poště
Miloslav Mejzlík
mistr v dílně
Marie Tomsová
hlasatelka
Marek Haman
vekslák
Š. Vojtíšková
slečna od veksláka
Luboš Doksanský
bubeník
V. Červenka
vysoký kluk
Jan Jirucha
hudebník
Miroslav Klimeš
hudebník
Luboš Zajíček
hudebník
Josef Rejman
hudebník
Martin Kumžák
hráč na klávesy skupiny Patentní zámek
Petr Venkrbec
saxofonista skupiny Patentní zámek
R. Simon
hráč na bicí skupiny Patentní zámek
M. Staněk
baskytarista skupiny Patentní zámek
Marcel Vlček
bubeník kapely Sklep
Z. Tichota
basový kytarista kapely Sklep
Zdeněk Fišer
kapelník Sklepa
J. Klíma
kluk na stadioně
D. Šedivý
kluk na stadioně
Adolf Seidl
kytarista/dubl za Martina Kuklu – hra na kytaru
J. Mrhal
kluk kytarista
B. Jílková
dívka z tanečních
H. Chvátalová
dívka z tanečních
L. Schwarzenbergerová
Crew and creators
Director
Second Unit Director
Assistant Director
Alena Houdková, Magda Vodičková
Screenstory
Screenplay
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Second Unit Photography
Camera Operator
Production Designer
Assistent Production Designer
Set Designer
Ivan Břešťák, Jaroslav Česal, Petr Průša
Costume Designer
Costumes
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Assistant Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
Daniela Jenčíková, Josef Štambach
Unit Production Manager
Cooperation
Terezie Čampulková (klapka), Roman Vácha (fotograf)
Music
Music Composed by
Selected Music
Vittorio Monti (Montiho čardáš /Czardas/), Jára Beneš (Růže z Argentiny – opereta ), Bohuslav Martinů (Posvícení)
Music Performed by
Studiová skupina Milana Svobody (Music Conducted by Milan Svoboda), Luboš Andršt /sólo na kytaru/, Petr Zeman /sólo na kytaru/
Choreographer
Songs
Oči černé
Song Composer lidová ruská píseň
Writer of Lyrics Jaroslav Mottl
Singer Marian Cingroš [dab]Rudolf PellarMagdalena Učíková
Praha je krásná
Song Composer Josef Stelibský
Writer of Lyrics Karel MelíšekJaroslav Mottl
Singer Marian Cingroš [dab]Rudolf Pellar
Škoda lásky
Song Composer Jaromír Vejvoda
Writer of Lyrics Václav Zeman
Singer Marian Cingroš [dab]Rudolf PellarEva Čížkovskásbor
Dolores růže bílá
Song Composer Jára Beneš
Writer of Lyrics Karel TobisVáclav ŠpilarVáclav Mírovský
Singer Hana KašparováLubomír Bryg
Květinářka /Ulicí města šel mladý pán/
Song Composer anonym
Singer Magdalena Učíková
Pohádka mládí
Song Composer Karel Vacek
Writer of Lyrics Karel Vacek
Singer Viktorie Knotková
Bezovka
Song Composer Josef Čebiš
Writer of Lyrics František Kaňka
Singer Hana KašparováLubomír Bryg
Bílý kůň
Song Composer anonym
Singer Magdalena Učíková
Production info
Original Title
Království za kytaru
Czech Title
Království za kytaru
English Title
Twelve Bars for Guitar
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distribution
Genre
comedy
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1989
Production Year
1989
Production specifications
start of filming 3 January 1989
end of filming 30 March 1989
the first film copy approved 3 August 1989
projection approval 10 October 1989
withdrawal from distribution 30 October 1993
Premiere
premiere 1 March 1990 /suitable for youths/
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Creative Group
4. tvůrčí skupina, Marcela Pittermannová (vedoucí 4. tvůrčí skupiny)
Technical info
Duration typology
feature film
Duration in minutes
80 min
Original length in metres
2 189 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: 4. filmový festival mladých Velké Poříčí u Hronova
1990
Velké Poříčí u Hronova / Czechoslovakia
Vítěz
Festival: 12. festival české a slovenské filmové veselohry Novoměstský hrnec smíchu Nové Město nad Metují
1990
Nové Město nad Metují / Czechoslovakia
Magdalena Učíková
Vítěz
Festival: 30. festival filmů pro děti Zlín
1990
Zlín / Czechoslovakia
Martin Kukla
Vítěz
Exhibition: 22. národní přehlídka filmů pro děti Ostrov
1990
Ostrov nad Ohří / Czechoslovakia
Magdalena Učíková
