Kolja (1996)

Director:

Jan Sverák

Writers:

Pavel Taussig (story)
Zdenek Sverák (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 January 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The perfect grouch has met his match. A five-year-old boy named Kolya.

Plot:

Franta Louka is a concert cellist in Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia, a confirmed bachelor and a lady's man...

Plot Keywords:

Prague | Stepfather | Hiccup | Music | Political

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 19 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Zdenek Sverák	...	Frantisek Louka
Andrei Chalimon	...	Kolja
Libuse Safránková	...	Klára
Ondrej Vetchý	...	Broz
Stella Zázvorková	...	Mother
Ladislav Smoljak	...	Houdek
Silvia Suvadova	...	Blanka
Liliya Malkina	...	Tamara (as Lilian Malkina)
Karel Hermánek	...	Musil
Petra Spalková	...	Pasa
Irina Livanova	...	Nadezda
Magda Sebestová	...	Zuzana
Nella Boudová	...	Brozová
René Pribil	...	Pokorný
Miroslav Táborský	...	Novotný
Slávka Budínová	...	Bustiková
Jirí Sovák	...	Ruzicka
Josef Lakatos
Lubomir Pisa
F.X. Thuri
Milan Hermánek
Netta Deborská
Pavel Taussig
Marek Daniel
Vera Uzelacová
Miriam Chytilová
Otmar Brancuzský
Regina Rázlová	...	Zubatá
Veronika Freimanová	...	Pediatrist
Filip Renc	...	Photographer
Pavel Vondruska
Hana Militká
Emma Cerná	...	Doctor at Hospital
Eva Klepácová
Lena Birková
Jan Kaspar
Jana Altmanová
Petr Splichal
Olga Cesková	...	Voice-Over
Lida Rakusanová	...	Voice-Over
Pavel Pechacek	...	Voice-Over
Vera Cermáková	...	Voice-Over
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rafael Kubelik	...	Himself (Philharmonic Conductor) (uncredited)

Directed by
Jan Sverák

Writing credits
Pavel Taussig		(story)
Zdenek Sverák		(screenplay)

Produced by
Eric Abraham	....	producer
Ernst Goldschmidt	....	co-producer
Jirí Jezek	....	line producer
Pavel Solc	....	line producer
Jan Sverák	....	producer
Jan Jíra	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Ondrej Soukup

Cinematography by
Vladimír Smutný

Film Editing by
Alois Fisárek

Casting by
Sona Tichacková

Art Direction by
Milos Kohout		(as Milos J. Kohout)

Costume Design by
Katarina Hollá

Makeup Department
Bozena Dosla	....	makeup artist
Frantisek Prihoda	....	makeup designer

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nikola Hejko	....	third assistant director
Slavek Horak	....	second assistant director
David Rauch	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Milan Babik	....	stand-by props
Milada Fischerova	....	graphic designer
Filip Heyduk	....	graphic designer
Milan Janostik	....	stand-by props
Vaclav Klabik	....	construction coordinator
Martin Ptacek	....	set dresser
Martin Slavicek	....	set dresser
Petr Stambach	....	construction coordinator
Richard Trtek	....	stand-by props
Karel Vanásek	....	property master
Ivan Vilimek	....	set dresser
Jan Vlasák	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Roman Capek	....	boom operator
Tomás Lylo	....	boom operator
Zbynek Mikulik	....	sound designer
Zbynek Mikulik	....	sound mixer
Pavel Rejholec	....	digital editor
Pavel Rejholec	....	sound dubbing
Ellen Schafer	....	sound design consultant: France
Ivo Spalj	....	sound mixer (as Ing. Ivo Spalj)
Bruce Stubblefield	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Pavel Kryml	....	special effects
Boris Masník	....	special effects
Jirí Simunek	....	special effects
Miroslav Snabl	....	special effects

Stunts
Antonin Hausknecht	....	stunt coordinator (as Antonin Hansknecht)
Jaroslav Peterka	....	stunt coordinator
Jaroslav Psenicka	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Pavel Bebr	....	key grip
Jaroslav Betka	....	chief electrician
Viktor Bruna	....	electrician
Jan Carda	....	camera operator
Ivan Ksandr	....	electrician
Vaclav Ksandr	....	assistant camera
Edita Leva	....	clapper loader
Frantisek Panocha	....	electrician
Petr Pazderka	....	key grip
Leopold Rozboud	....	electrician
Miroslav Soukup	....	key grip
Radek Stefan	....	assistant camera
Zdenek Vávra	....	still photographer
Rene Vlk	....	key grip
Miroslav Vojkuvka	....	assistant camera
Jan Carda	....	focus puller: main camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sona Tichacková	....	additional casting
Ivan Vorlícek	....	additional casting
Lenka Stefankovicova	....	additional casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maria Hubackova	....	wardrobe assistant
Marta Jencova	....	wardrobe assistant
Alexander Kiss	....	wardrobe master

Editorial Department
Ivan Frossl	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Juraj Durovic	....	music mixer
Leos Svarovsky	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Václav Janousek	....	driver
Jan Skála	....	driver
Milan Zika	....	driver

Other crew
Kristian Bily	....	translator (as Ing. Kristian Bily)
Jan Bosela	....	assistant to producers: Biograf Jan Sverak
David Brynda	....	caterer
Klara Bukovska	....	production assistant
Zuzana Cervenková	....	production assistant
Valerie Dhiver	....	production coordinator: France
Berenice Fugard	....	assistant to producers: Portobello Pictures
Ilann Girard	....	production associate: France
Irena Hadacova	....	script editor: France
Billy Hinshelwood	....	production lawyer (as William Hinshelwood)
Barbora Hlavacova	....	translator
Daniela Humlova	....	continuity
Ondrej Jezek	....	production assistant
Jesswyn Jones	....	subtitler
Frantisek Koch	....	military equipment supervisor
Jiri Koubik	....	pilot
Ivana Kvapilova	....	production accountant
Vladimir Kvarda	....	pilot
Zbynek Mikulik	....	pilot
Vaclav Nemecek	....	caterer
Albert G. Ruben	....	insurance
Václav Sasek	....	script executive (as Dr. Václav Sasek)
J.B. Sayer	....	translator
Petr Sindelar	....	pilot
Mirko Skampa	....	technical consultant
Pavel Taussig	....	story idea (as Dr. Pavel Taussig)
Aneta Valaskova	....	production assistant
Anna Vásová	....	script executive
Jana Vesela	....	production assistant
Jitka Zemenova	....	caterer

Thanks
Tomás Baldýnský	....	special thanks
Magda Bicíková	....	special thanks (as Magdalena Bicíková)
Libor Bruha	....	special thanks
Emilie Cagaskova	....	special thanks
Stanislav Cajthaml	....	special thanks
Filip Chodakov	....	special thanks
Misa Dostalova	....	special thanks
Jiri Fohler	....	special thanks
Irena Frycova	....	special thanks
Mira Haviarova	....	special thanks
Ludvik Hess	....	special thanks
Frantisek Heusler	....	special thanks
Jaroslava Hlavesova	....	special thanks
Zdenek Hoffman	....	special thanks
Jaroslav Kolman	....	special thanks
Jitka Kovarova	....	special thanks
Martin Kubala	....	special thanks
Jiri Merunka	....	special thanks
Ivo Pelant	....	special thanks
Vitek Petrasek	....	special thanks (as Vit Petrasek)
Olga Reruchova	....	special thanks
Helena Rohanova	....	special thanks
Jaroslav Schreder	....	special thanks
Petr Simak	....	special thanks
Radim Stetina	....	special thanks
Drahomíra Vihanová	....	special thanks
Eliska Vitvarova	....	special thanks
Ivan Vojnár	....	special thanks
Ivan Zacharias	....	special thanks
Ondrej Zach	....	special thanks
Oldrich Zamostny	....	special thanks
Marta Zikanova	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Biograf Jan Sverak
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)
• Ceská Televize
• CinemArt
• Eurimages
• Pandora Cinema
• Portobello Pictures
• Space Films

Distributors

• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Buena Vista International Spain (Spain)
• Buena Vista International (Germany)
• Buena Vista International (Argentina)
• Cinemien (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Eurocine (Argentina)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (France)
• Homescreen (1997) (Netherlands) (video)
• Madman Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• Miramax Films (1997) (USA) (subtitled)
• Space Films (Czech Republic)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Vivarto (2006) (Poland) (all media)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Aero Vodochody  aerial photography
• Agrobanka  bank
• Barrandov Biografia  sound post-production sponsoring
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)  film supported by
• Centrum Ceskeho Videa  film supported by
• Ceská Televize  film supported by
• CinemArt  film supported by
• Cinemasound  digital editing and sound dubbing
• Eurimages  film supported by
• ING Bank  banking services
• Marriott Harrison  production lawyer
• Omni Titles  subtitles
• Prague City Philharmonic Players  music recorded by
• RHH  insurance
• Space Films  line production
• Stern Quartet  music recorded by
• The Czech Republic State Fund for Support and Development of Cinematography  film supported by
• UltraAero  aerial photography
• WOW S.R.O.  copying and typesetting

Also Known As:

Kolya (International: English title)
Kola (Poland) [pl]
Kolya (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Kolya (Spain) [es]
Kolya - Drengen der fandt en far (Denmark) [da]
Kolya, el nombre de la esperanza (Argentina) [es]
Kolya, uma Lição de Amor (Brazil) [pt]
Mikros kolya, O (Greece) [el]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sensuality.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

Czech Republic

Language:

Slovak | Czech | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Taiwan:GP | South Korea:15 | Australia:PG | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (cable rating) | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Norway:A | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG-13 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Biograf Jan Sverak

Trivia:

The DVD version was the first officially published movie DVD in Region 2.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Kolya becomes lost on the subway network and is trying to negotiate the escalator, he is trying to step onto the left hand side of the up escalator. However, from Kolya's point of view shot, he is trying to step onto the right hand side of the up escalator.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Vratné lahve (2007)

Soundtrack:

Als die alte Mutter mich noch lehrte singen (When My Old Mother...)

It's even better if you understand Czech

I like this movie very much and I am glad to read that most of you like it too. However, some comments here describe it as predictable and having the funny parts far from one another. It is not true. There are two more things that you cannot appreciate: 1) The background. I am a Czech myself and I remember the times which the film speaks about. There are many little details that probably come and go unnoticed for the foreigner eye but each of them is a symbol - it carries meaning that is so obvious for a Czech viewer. 2) The language is FUNNY! Sverak (the author) is a well known writer here. He is a GENIUS with the language, it's full of sweet little word puns that can never be translated into another language. You can translate the data, the information - but you lose the atmosphere. Believe me, even in the parts that look boring, there is something hidden between the lines - it's either funny, emotional, powerful... There is another great thing with playing with the differences between Czech and Russian. The languages are similar (to some extend) but there are differences that can result in misunderstandings - and they use it in the movie too. Czech people used to learn Russian language at schools so they can appreciate it.

I am so sorry that there is no way that you could enjoy even these parts of the movie. (Unless you'd want to learn Czech of course :-)

Just please, please, bear in mind that this is not just a shallow romantic movie. Yes, it is lovely - but there is more than that.