Muddy Steps
Category
filmGenre
reportage, inquiryTypology
documentarytheatrical distributionshortOriginal title
Zablácené stopyCzech title
Zablácené stopyEnglish title
Muddy StepsWorking title
StopySummary
While other contemporary reports showed the economic successes of the Unified Agricultural Cooperatives and state farms, this time filmmaker Václav Táborský in his opus Muddy Steps set off to see what the Czech countryside is failing to do. Poorly supplied villages with few cultural opportunities and low-paid agricultural work naturally do not attract many young people. The countryside is emptying and decaying. The filmmakers found the right optimistic ending in the village of Hošťka, where young people farm under the guidance of the father-like director of the state farm Novák.
Synopsis
The film crew witness the problems of the contemporary countryside. In some villages they encounter nothing but ruined buildings and muddy roads. Young people prefer to work in a factory and live in the town, rather than on a state farm or in an agricultural collective. Pretending to be a reporter, Václav Táborský asks young people in particular what the situation in the countryside is really like and what is being done to improve it. He speaks to girls from the state farm Děkanské Skaliny, a group of young people from the Unified Agricultural Cooperative in Luby, in the Pilsen Region, and several workers from the state farm Frymburk. They all agree that agriculture means a lot of work for little money, that cultural activities in the countryside are very poor and that the level of supply is also rather limited. Finally, the director of the state farm Hošťka is interviewed. There they solved most of these problems and they have no shortage of young workers. The basic requirement for success should be a sincere interest in the needs of young people, avoiding false promises, but also requiring discipline.
Photos
Commentary
Performed by
Václav Táborský
dokumentarista
Alois Novák
ředitel státního statku Hošťka
Crew and creators
Director
Screenstory
Screenplay
Commentary by
Director of Photography
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Music
Music Composed by
archivní
Songs
Chaloupky pod horama
Song Composer František Voborský
Writer of Lyrics František Voborský
Singer mužský sbor
Production info
Original Title
Zablácené stopy
Czech Title
Zablácené stopy
English Title
Muddy Steps
Working Title
Stopy
Category
film
Typology
documentarytheatrical distribution
Genre
reportage, inquiry
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1963
Production Year
1963
Production specifications
projection approval 1963
Premiere
premiere 1963 /suitable for youths/
Distribution slogan
no caption
Copyright Holders
Laboratories
Distribution
Technical info
Duration typology
short film
Duration in minutes
10 min
Original length in metres
305 meters
Distribution carrier
16mm, 35mm
Aspect ratio
1:1,37
Colour
black & white
Sound
sound
Sound system/format
mono
Versions
Czech
Dialogue languages
Czech
Subtitles languages
without subtitles
Opening/End credits languages
Czech
Awards
Vítěz
Exhibition: 4. dny krátkého filmu Karlovy Vary
1963
Karlovy Vary / Czechoslovakia
Václav Táborský
