Vratné lahve (2007)

Director:

Jan Sverák

Writers:

Zdenek Sverák (story)
Zdenek Sverák (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 March 2007 (Czech Republic)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Job | Marital Problem | Recycling | Infidelity | Retired

Awards:

7 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Zdenek Sverák	...	Josef Tkaloun
Tatiana Vilhelmová	...	Daughter
Daniela Kolárová	...	Tkalounová
Alena Vránová	...	Headmaster
Jirí Machácek	...	Deputy headmaster Landa
Miroslav Táborský	...	Subrt
Martin Pechlát	...	Karel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nella Boudová	...	Teacher Ptácková
Jan Budar	...	Úlisný
Pavel Landovský	...	Rezác
Filip Renc	...	Man with a cell phone
Jirí Schmitzer
Ladislav Smoljak
Robin Soudek	...	Tomík
Vera Tichánková	...	Lamková
Ondrej Vetchý	...	Rezác jr.
Jan Vlasák	...	Wasserbauer
Lenka Zahradnická

Directed by
Jan Sverák

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

Produced by
Eric Abraham	....	producer
Jan Sverák	....	producer

Original Music by
Ondrej Soukup

Cinematography by
Vladimír Smutný

Film Editing by
Alois Fisárek

Art Direction by
Jan Vlasák

Costume Design by
Simona Rybáková

Makeup Department
Zdenka Klika	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Bára Adamová	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frantisek Loukota	....	second assistant director (as Fanda Loukota)
Katerina Oujezdská	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Jakub Cech	....	sound
Robert Gumala	....	boom operator
Pavel Rejholec	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Miro Gal	....	Flame artist
David Vána	....	visual effects supervisor
Petr Vcelicka	....	digital compositor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Helena Rovna	....	set costumer
Iveta Trmalova	....	costume supervisor

Other crew
Petra Zachová	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Biograf Jan Sverak
• Phoenix Film Investments
• Portobello Pictures
• TV Nova
• U.F.O. Pictures

Distributors

• Benelux Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (2008) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2007) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• KOOL Filmdistribution (2008) (Germany) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Maple Pictures (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Discovery Film & Video Distribution (2008) (Croatia) (all media)
• Video Film Express (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Universal Production Partners (UPP)

Other Companies

• CE VideoAssist Rental  Additional VideoAssist equipment provided by
• Soundsquare  sound post-production
• The Czech Republic State Fund for Support and Development of Cinematography  funding

Also Known As:

Empties (International: English title)
Botellas retornables (Argentina) [es]
Butelki zwrotne (Poland) [pl]
Elämä kierrättää (Finland) [fi]
Leergut (Germany) [de]
Povratne boce (Croatia) (wide-release title) [hr]
Vuoti a rendere (Italy) [it]
Zoi se anakyklosi (Greece) [el]

Runtime:

Czech Republic:100 min | Argentina:100 min

Country:

Czech Republic | UK

Language:

Czech | German

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Germany:o.Al. | Czech Republic:U | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-7 | Netherlands:6 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:PG (British Columbia)

Filming Locations:

Czech Republic

Company:

Biograf Jan Sverak

Movie Connections:

References Kolja (1996)

A simple yet mesmerizing Czech film about joys of life.

Can we say that maverick Czech director Jan Sverak has lost his magical art of making wonderful films if his latest offering "Vratné Lahve" were to be considered as an ordinary film ? The answer would be in negative as he has made one of those mischievous films whose message might not instantly dawn on ordinary audiences but allows to appreciate character development which is perfectly in sync with general mood and rhythm of the film."Empties" presents an honest assessment of some very good views of Prague,a city which has changed enormously after the fall of communism and arrival of free market economy.This is not the sole reason for watching this film.One must watch "Empties" in order to understand that a man is young as long as his desire for beautiful young women is intact.In the past,this oft repeated message has been conveyed in numerous films but what makes Jan Sverak film appear as a face in the crowd is that fact that he has chosen to direct his father Zdenek Sverak to direct a film about joys and sorrow of old age of those Czech people who are currently feeling that repressed sexuality of communist times is getting rejuvenated in free market world of capitalism.