...a pozdravuji vlastovky (1972)

Director:

Jaromil Jires

Writer:

Jaromil Jires (writer)

Release Date:

1 May 1972 (Czechoslovakia)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot Keywords:

1940s | Prison Visit | Flashback | WWII | Resistance Movement

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Magda Vásáryová	...	Maruska Kuderíková
Viera Strnisková	...	Mother
Július Vasek	...	Father
Hana Pastejríková	...	Jarka
Dagmar Bláhová	...	Julinka
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jana Andresíková	...	Frieda
Alzbeta Frejková	...	Mrs. Sternetzská
Václav Helsus	...	Julek
Vítezslav Jandák	...	Olda
Eva Jirousková	...	Lili Marleen
Valérie Kaplanová	...	Erna
Miroslav Kolár	...	Josef
Hana Maciuchová	...	Vítezka
Miroslav Moravec	...	Nerger
Ladislav Mrkvicka	...	Bob
Jindrich Narenta	...	Soudce
Jirí Prýmek	...	Dorsch
Zora Rozsypalová	...	Mrs. Nau
Karel Sebesta	...	Friedrich
Otto Sevcík	...	Dorschuv tlumocník
Daniela Srajerová	...	Anicka
Zdenek Srstka	...	Gestapák
Zuzana Talpová	...	Vezenkyne
Jirí Zahajský	...	Polda

Also Known As:

And Give My Love to the Swallows (International: English title)
...e saluto le rondini (Italy) [it]
...und ich grüße die Schwalben (East Germany) [de]
Hälsa till svalorna (Sweden) [sv]
I agapi mou sta helidonia (Greece) [el]
I pozdrawiam jaskólki (Poland) [pl]
Terveiseni pääskysille (Finland) (TV title) [fi]

Runtime:

Czechoslovakia:86 min

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Czech

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Brno, Czech Republic

Company:

Filmové Studio Barrandov

Mary, Queen of Scots

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I seek out Czech films whenever I can, because they fascinate me.

Prague has a strong tradition of theater and animation. They are a coherent enough ethnic group to have an identity. They have an acceptable film school. And — don't laugh — they have the strongest porn industry in Europe. That matters because it feeds independent talent.

And they are right next door to Poland, which produces some of the most lyrical cinema (and music) in existence.

What fascinates me is how the Czech people, with roughly the same history as the Poles, can produce files that matter so little. I am trying to understand it.

This is actually not a bad movie. It is slight in every way but it does not offend. We have a young, absolutely beautiful and always well groomed woman in a World War II prison, held by German occupiers for her involvement as gopher for the resistance. She — apparently along — does not squeal on her comrades. Though Nazis did torture by waterboarding elsewhere, the prison officials here are stern but not violent.

We see her history in the resistance in flashback. At the end, she is executed, beheaded offcamera. Clearly this is meant for a Czech audience, and her proud face and conviction meant to reward the viewer. Along the way, we see only a childish perspective. It is precisely as blunt as one would expect from the Germans had they won; a simple poem for national pride. The most important thing she does is sing national songs, and write notes that are smuggled out to form the script.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.