Reflection
Country
CzechoslovakiaCopyright
1965Production year
1965Premiere
1 April 1966Runtime
32 minDirector
Evald SchormCategory
filmGenre
political, essayTypology
documentarytheatrical distributionmediumOriginal title
ZrcadleníCzech title
ZrcadleníEnglish title
ReflectionWorking title
ŽivotSummary
The award-winning documentary by Evald Schorm and Jan Špáta, Reflection, is an artistic statement about life and death. The raw footage from the hospital and the reflections of patients, doctors and nurses provoke reflection on the meaning of life and its values. The mood of the film is underscored by Jan Klusák's music, excerpts from classical symphonic music and especially shots of the autumn nature (seagulls appear over the water in the prologue and epilogue). The filming took place in the Bulovka hospital and in the psychiatric hospital in Bohnice in Prague. The title is taken from the quoted poem of the same name by Vladimír Holan.
Synopsis
Nurses take care of old and young patients who talk about life and its most precious gift: health. The old patients are aware of the approaching end, but for the young the encounter with illness is an unexpected experience. The sick very often receive visits. For the doctors and nurses, the hospital is the place where they work, while for the patients it is a foreign and feared environment. The doctors reflect not only on the illnesses but also on their context ("The greatest pest of modern life is... too much fear; it kills people, hurts them and is, in short, cruel"). Other patients are alcoholics from the Bohnice hospital. Doctors give first aid to a girl who attempted suicide. She then talks about her feelings.
Note
The film was released in April 1966 as an opener to the psychological film Searching (1965; directed by Jan Čuřík, Antonín Máša). It returned to cinemas in a renewed premiere in February 2008, as part of Remembering in Reflection (2007; directed by Ivan Vojnár).
Film online
Photos
Commentary
Jan Kačer
recitace veršů z básně Zrcadlení
Crew and creators
Director
Screenstory
Screenplay
Commentary by
Vladimír Holan (verše z básně Zrcadlení)
Dramaturg
Director of Photography
Film Editor
Sound Designer
Production Manager
Consultant
MUDr. Miroslav Dittrich, MUDr. Milan Morávek
Music
Music Composed by
Music Performed by
Production info
Original Title
Zrcadlení
Czech Title
Zrcadlení
English Title
Reflection
Working Title
Život
Category
film
Typology
documentarytheatrical distribution
Genre
political, essay
Origin country
Czechoslovakia
Copyright
1965
Production Year
1965
Production specifications
projection approval 15 July 1965
Premiere
premiere 1 April 1966 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Praha /3 týdny/ a Paříž /2 týdny/, Praha)
premiere 1 April 1966 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)
renewed premiere 1990 /suitable for youths/
renewed premiere 21 February 2008 /suitable for all ages/ (kino Světozor, Praha)
Distribution slogan
no caption (1966) / no caption (1990) / no caption (2008)
Production
Copyright Holders
Distribution
Ústřední půjčovna filmů (původní 1966 a obnovená 1990), Asociace českých filmových klubů – AČFK (obnovená 2008; monopol do 21. 2. 2013)
Technical info
Duration typology
medium length film
Duration in minutes
32 min
Original length in metres
908 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
Festival: 6. mezinárodní festival krátkých filmů Krakov
1966
Krakov / Poland
Vítěz
Exhibition: 1. přehlídka vědeckých a populárně vědeckých filmů Olomouc
1966
Olomouc / Czechoslovakia
Vítěz
Exhibition: 4. setkání krátkého filmu s pražskými pracujícími
1966
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Vítěz
Event: Ceny Trilobit 1965
1966
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Evald Schorm
Vítěz
Exhibition: 4. setkání krátkého filmu s pražskými pracujícími
1966
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Vítěz
Festival: 16. mezinárodní festival dokumentárního filmu Benátky
1965
Benátky / Italy
Vítěz
Exhibition: 6. dny krátkého filmu Karlovy Vary
1965
Karlovy Vary / Czechoslovakia
