Kolja (1996)

Director:

Jan Sverák

Writers:

Pavel Taussig (story)
Zdenek Sverák (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 January 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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:

Funeral | Debt | Orchestra | Lost | Friend

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 Bezrukova	...	Nadezda (as Irina Livanova)
Magda Sebestová	...	Zuzana
Nella Boudová	...	Brozová
René Pribil	...	Pokorný
Miroslav Táborský	...	Novotný

Also Known As:

Kolya (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
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]
O mikros kolya (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:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Taiwan:GP | South Korea:15 | 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:

Anachronisms: Throughout the movie, many background cars are clearly newer than 1989 models. The film is set in 1989.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#22.53)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Barcarolla

Heart-Warming, Charming Film

Set in the twilight of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia, we find Louka, a 55-year old confirmed bachelor, blacklisted concert cellist, and womanizer, struggling to make ends meet. He's slipping further into poverty when he agrees to participate in a scam to save a Russian woman from deportation…by marrying her. She promptly flees to the West, leaving Louka with her 5 year old, Russian-speaking son, Kolya. Predictable, with Disneyesque warmth, "Kolya" is still a very effective movie. Well directed and acted it does not rush Louka's slow realization of his capacity to love, pried out by his young, innocent ward. Setting the story against the backdrop of the approaching Velvet Revolution emphasizes Louka's spiritual growth. As good as this movie is, I'm surprised how poorly it is perceived by IMDb's younger viewers. It deserved its Academy Award and deserves a rental.