Once Upon a Time in a Kingdom

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1992

Production year

1992

Runtime

10 min

Director

Mirjam Landa

Category

film

Genre

étude

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionstudent filmshort

Original title

Bylo nebylo v jednom království

Czech title

Bylo nebylo v jednom království

English title

Once Upon a Time in a Kingdom

Summary

The mutiny of the prisoners against the unhuman methods used by the director of prison.

Synopsis

Lots of men are squashed in the cell of an American prison. The bald Billy cannot sleep; he is horrified to death at the thought of the things to come. He silently wakes up a friend who recollects how little it takes the sadistic prison director to take a prisoner outside the building and kill him. Billy has already won his disfavour when he interrupted his yelling at the line up by playing harmonica. The worries are justified. The director makes him muster and Billy disappears for ever. His friend lets his co-prisoners know about it after the reveille by playing Billy’s melody on an imaginary harmonica. Some of them join him after a while by imitating other musical instruments. The smooth director shaves and is captivated at the sight of a bloodstain from his slightly cut face on his hand. The strain of the prisoners culminates in their demolishing the modest furnishings. The guards call for the director who crushes the rebellion. Only Billy’s friend keeps playing the “harmonica”, the others do not dare any more. It is clear now who is going to be the next target of the director’s cruel revenge.

Cast

Bořivoj Navrátil

vězeň Billy Landman

Jiří Kodeš

ředitel věznice

David Matásek

vězeň Frank, Billyho kamarád

Jan Jílek

vězeň

Milan Klacek

starší vězeň

Daniel Landa

potetovaný vězeň

Leon William N'Gatse

černý vězeň

Crew and creators

Director

Mirjam Landa

Screenstory

Daniel Landa

Screenplay

Daniel Landa

Director of Photography

Jan Velický

Camera Operator

Alexander Šurkala

Set Designer

Alena Nosková

Make-Up Artist

Alena Marečková

Sound Designer

Peter Mistrík

Production Manager

Helena Plačková

Unit Production Manager

Markéta Sedláčková

Pedagogical management

Jaromil Jireš (režie), Karel Smyczek, Jan Kališ (kamera), Josef Císař, Josef Valušiak (střih), Vladimír Skall (zvuk)

Music

Music Composed by

Daniel Landa

Production info

Original Title

Bylo nebylo v jednom království

Czech Title

Bylo nebylo v jednom království

English Title

Once Upon a Time in a Kingdom

Category

film

Typology

featuretheatrical distributionstudent film

Genre

étude

Student film

Origin country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1992

Production Year

1992

Production

Studio FAMU

Copyright Holders

Studio FAMU

Distribution

Studio FAMU

Technical info

Duration typology

short film

Duration in minutes

10 min

Original length in metres

282 meters

Distribution carrier

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: 3. festival FAMU Praha

1993
Praha / Czech Republic
Vasilis Skalenakis

Vítěz

Festival: 3. festival FAMU Praha

1993
Praha / Czech Republic
Jan Velický