František Velecký
Encyclopedia
František Velecký was a Slovak
actor.
Velecký was a very particular figure of Slovak acting, being antipode to venerated mainstream showbiz celebrities. Although he had never received any formal training (in acting) he managed to earn a great respect of both filmmakers and audience members. He performed in some 50 Slovak, Czech, German, Hungarian and UK/US movies, but he will be most remembered for portraying the lead character of Mikoláš in the Czech movie Marketa Lazarová
.
. He originally studied civil engineering (highschool) and worked as a designer for few years. However, since his early age he was attracted by the world of cinema and finally in his 30s managed to get his first major roles. Practically at the beginning of his acting career, after a few minor films including Každý týždeň sedem dní (1964) and Nylonový mesiac (1965), he received the role of his lifetime in Marketa Lazarová
(1966). This experience deeply influenced the rest of his life. In interviews, he described with gratitude how the director František Vláčil
completely changed his way of seeing the world during the long production of this movie.
Despite the impact the role had on the film (widely considered the best Czech cinema
) and on his life, Velecký would probably be more recognized by Western audiences for his appearances in The Brothers Grimm (released 2005) and the Academy Award-nominated Želary
(2003). For most of his career, Velecký was free of any theatre company ties except being briefly associated with the Theatre of Spišká Nová Ves in the 1980s.
During his professional career, Velecký was not limited to acting. He was assistant director to Juraj Jakubisko
on the film Zbehovia a pútnici (1968) and he applied his talent in fine arts during 1990s.
Velecký died of cancer 5 October 2003 in Bratislava
.
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
actor.
Velecký was a very particular figure of Slovak acting, being antipode to venerated mainstream showbiz celebrities. Although he had never received any formal training (in acting) he managed to earn a great respect of both filmmakers and audience members. He performed in some 50 Slovak, Czech, German, Hungarian and UK/US movies, but he will be most remembered for portraying the lead character of Mikoláš in the Czech movie Marketa Lazarová
Marketa Lazarová
Marketa Lazarová is a 1967 Czechoslovak historical film directed by František Vláčil. It is an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Vladislav Vančura...
.
Biography and Career
Velecký was born 8 March 1934 in ZvolenZvolen
Zvolen |Slatina]] rivers, close to Banská Bystrica. With its ancient castle, the town has a historical center, which represents the seat of an okres .-History:...
. He originally studied civil engineering (highschool) and worked as a designer for few years. However, since his early age he was attracted by the world of cinema and finally in his 30s managed to get his first major roles. Practically at the beginning of his acting career, after a few minor films including Každý týždeň sedem dní (1964) and Nylonový mesiac (1965), he received the role of his lifetime in Marketa Lazarová
Marketa Lazarová
Marketa Lazarová is a 1967 Czechoslovak historical film directed by František Vláčil. It is an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Vladislav Vančura...
(1966). This experience deeply influenced the rest of his life. In interviews, he described with gratitude how the director František Vláčil
František Vlácil
František Vláčil was a Czech film director, painter, and graphic artist.Between 1945 and 1950, he studied esthetics and art history at Masaryk University in Brno. Later he worked in various groups and ateliers , but his main area became played film...
completely changed his way of seeing the world during the long production of this movie.
Despite the impact the role had on the film (widely considered the best Czech cinema
Cinema of the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic was a seedbed for many acclaimed film directors.Three Czech/Czechoslovak movies that won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film were The Shop on Main Street by Ján Kadár and Elmar Klos in 1965, Closely Watched Trains by Jiří Menzel in 1967 and...
) and on his life, Velecký would probably be more recognized by Western audiences for his appearances in The Brothers Grimm (released 2005) and the Academy Award-nominated Želary
Želary
Želary is a 2003 Czech/Slovak film directed by Ondřej Trojan, starring Anna Geislerová. The movie received a 2004 Academy Award nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category. It was produced by Barrandov Studios in Prague.- Plot :...
(2003). For most of his career, Velecký was free of any theatre company ties except being briefly associated with the Theatre of Spišká Nová Ves in the 1980s.
During his professional career, Velecký was not limited to acting. He was assistant director to Juraj Jakubisko
Juraj Jakubisko
Juraj Jakubisko is a Slovak film director. In his movies he managed to catch life's most beautiful colors, unhinge the poetry behind the ordinary and to be ahead of his time without forgetting his roots....
on the film Zbehovia a pútnici (1968) and he applied his talent in fine arts during 1990s.
Velecký died of cancer 5 October 2003 in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
.
Selected filmography
- Skalní v ofsajde (1960) - debut, uncredited
- Každý týždeň sedem dní (1964)
- Prípad pre obhajcu (1964)
- Nylonový mesiac (1965)
- Marketa LazarováMarketa LazarováMarketa Lazarová is a 1967 Czechoslovak historical film directed by František Vláčil. It is an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Vladislav Vančura...
(1967) - Stopy na Sitne (1968)
- Pražské noci (1968)
- Virágvasárnap (1969)
- Sladké hry minulého leta (1969) TV
- Noc s mačkou (1970)
- Princ Bajaja (1970)
- Red PsalmRed PsalmRed Psalm is a 1972 film by Miklós Jancsó. The film's Hungarian title translated as And the People Still Ask, a quote from a poem by the Hungarian nationalist poet Sándor Petőfi.-Plot:Red Psalm centers around a small peasants' revolt in 1890...
(Még kér a nép) (1972) - Zločin v Modré hvězde (1973)
- Láska (1973)
- Szerelmem, Elektra (1974)
- Horúčka (1975)
- Pacho, hybský zbojník (1975)
- Na veliké řece (1976)
- Bludička (1977)
- Na konci diaľnice (1982)
- Na druhom brehu sloboda (1984)
- Iná láska (1985)
- O živej vode (1987)
- Let asfaltového holuba (1990)
- Lepšie je byť bohatý a zdravý ako chudobný a chorý (1992)
- ŽelaryŽelaryŽelary is a 2003 Czech/Slovak film directed by Ondřej Trojan, starring Anna Geislerová. The movie received a 2004 Academy Award nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category. It was produced by Barrandov Studios in Prague.- Plot :...
(2003) - The Brothers GrimmThe Brothers Grimm (film)The Brothers Grimm is a 2005 fantasy Adventure film directed by Terry Gilliam. The film stars Matt Damon and Heath Ledger in an exaggerated and fictitious portrait of the Brothers Grimm as traveling con-artists in French-occupied Germany during the late 18th century...
(2005)
Notable TV appearances
- Rajský plyn (1970)
- Plamene (1972)
- Vrchárska balada (1973)
- Naši synovia (1974)
- Vivat Beňovský (1975)
- Smrť chodí po horách (1979)
- Na baňu klopajú (1980)
- Cukor (1982)
- Štúrovci (1991)
External links
- Fero Velecký
- Bio from Slovak Film Institute (Slovenský filmový ústav)
- Many pictures on nostalghia.cz plus another bio