Vratné lahve (2007)

Director:

Jan Sverák

Writers:

Zdenek Sverák (story)
Zdenek Sverák (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 March 2007 (Czech Republic)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Prayer | Old Age | Retired | Dreams | Infidelity

Awards:

6 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
Vera Tichánková	...	Lamková
Ondrej Vetchý	...	Rezác jr.
Jan Vlasák	...	Wasserbauer

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)
• 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]
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:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Netherlands:6 | Czech Republic:U | Germany:o.Al. | Finland:K-7 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Czech Republic

Company:

Biograf Jan Sverak

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Eliska is supposed to be a professional teacher of German, yet in the German sentences she speaks in the course of the movie, her German has a heavy Czech accent, much worse than that of her supposed student (listen to her pronunciation of the word "schoen", for example.) And, when Eliska is asked to translate the sentence, "I work for the city administration," her German translation makes no grammatic sense ("an der Stadtamt").

Movie Connections:

References Kolja (1996)

absolutely gorgeous, witty, eloquent

Simply, a waaayyy better than Kolja. Personally, I guess almost anything said about a movie before you see it is actually a spoiler, as it influences the expectations and the response isn't that pure anymore. For those who share this attitude with me, just read no more than the next line. Believe me, go see this great cinematic achievement. The Sverak duo is certainly a kind of quality guarantee. However, Vratne lahve gives you much more than the necessary expectations fulfillment. Witty dialogues, tremendously believable acting, plausible script and humane setting, all of these form a story full of emotions and simple truths most of us value so much even without realizing it. This movie makes you realize all those lovely aspects life and its various phases bring about. ...and one more thing, (this might be connected with understanding the local mentality) watching this movie you will most probably find yourself laughing really whole-heartedly, this movie is truly much funnier than any high-rated comedy, even though the topic and story covered aren't actually that funny in real life at all. Wonderful experience, definitely deserves worldwide recognition, a second Oscar for Sverak wouldn't be too much to expect.