When the Wolves Cry
Category
filmGenre
dramaTypology
featuretheatrical distributionstudent filmshortOriginal title
Když vlci pláčouCzech title
Když vlci pláčouEnglish title
When the Wolves CrySummary
Dramatic episode from the end of the war.
Synopsis
At the end of World War II., a German soldier and German officer are escaping through the Czech woods in hope of getting home. They find a secluded, worn out and damaged house. They need to take a rest; it seems the officer also has an injured leg. As the soldier is walking through the house he finds a helmet, with swastika. He does not notice a little boy who silently sneaks out and runs away. But then something rattles in the closed cabinet. The soldier shoots it through immediately with a load from his automatic rifle. Behind the cabinet door a huddled boy is shuddering. He probably played soldiers here with his friend. The officer does not want any witnesses of their escape; he reminds the soldier of his mother and the officer’s family waiting for them in Germany. He wants to shoot the boy who ran from the house, but fell down after some steps. However, the soldier has enough of murdering. They draw lots as to who shall shoot and it is the soldier who gets the lot. The soldier eventualy aims the gun at the officer and he shoots him instead of the child. Accompanied by the second boy, two men are approaching through the wood. There is a loud bang, and the soldier shot in the belly collapses on the ground and, after a while, he dies.
Photos
Cast
Pavel Nový
Voice by Oto Ševčík
německý důstojník Franz
Daniel Landa
německý voják Manfred
Petr Kuklík
chlapec
Šimon Lichnovský
chlapec
Martin Vondra
vesničan
Václav Sloup
vesničan
Crew and creators
Director
Screenstory
Screenplay
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Martin Douba, Jiří Zeiner
Set Designer
Make-Up Artist
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production
Unit Production Manager
Klára Bukovská, Markéta Nováková
Consultant
Mirjam Landa (jazyková poradkyně)
Pedagogical management
Jaromil Jireš (režie), Karel Smyczek, Jan Kališ (kamera), Josef Valušiak (střih)
Music
Music Composed by
Songs
Die Fahne hoch /Horst Wessel Lied/
Song Composer Etienne Nicolas Méhul
Writer of Lyrics Horst Wessel
Singer sbor
Es zittern die morschen Knochen /Wir werden weiter marschieren/
Song Composer Hans Baumann
Writer of Lyrics Hans Baumann
Singer sbor
Production info
Original Title
Když vlci pláčou
Czech Title
Když vlci pláčou
English Title
When the Wolves Cry
Category
film
Typology
featuretheatrical distributionstudent film
Genre
drama
Student film
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1992
Production Year
1992
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Technical info
Duration typology
short film
Duration in minutes
14 min
Original length in metres
360 meters
Distribution carrier
35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
colour
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech, German
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Festival: 19. Mladá kamera Uničov
1993
Uničov / Czech Republic
