Pelíšky
Encyclopedia
Cosy Dens is a 1999
Czech
film directed by Jan Hřebejk
. It is loosely based on the novel Hovno Hoří (Czech
: "Flaming Feces") by Petr Šabach
.
. Teenager Michal Šebek (Michael Beran) develops a crush on his neighbor, Jindřiška Krausová (Kristýna Nováková). Michal's family is headed by a stubborn army officer who believes that the latest East German Tupperware
will sufficiently shame those American imperialists
, while Jindřiška's father is an ardent foe of the Communists
saved from prison only because he is a war hero. Much to the parents' dismay, the younger generation couldn't care less for politics. Instead, Michal sports a Beatles mop-top and runs a local film group specialising in Hollywood and pre-war French film
s, while Jindřiška starts hanging out with a mysterious hipster.
The Czech title is a plural and diminutive of the word "pelech", literally meaning animal den or burrow. It is used figuratively for a cosy hideout.
1999 in film
The year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep...
Czech
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...
film directed by Jan Hřebejk
Jan Hrebejk
Jan Hřebejk is a Czech film director.-Early life and education:Born in Prague, Hřebejk studied together with his classmate Petr Jarchovský at high school. Now Jarchovsky is a frequent collaborator as a screenwriter...
. It is loosely based on the novel Hovno Hoří (Czech
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
: "Flaming Feces") by Petr Šabach
Petr Šabach
-Works:* Jak potopit Austrálii * Hovno hoří * Zvláštní problém Františka S. * Putování mořského koně * Babičky * Opilé banány * Čtyři muži na vodě * Ramon...
.
Plot summary
Pelíšky is a bittersweet coming-of-age story set in the months leading up to the ill-fated 1968 Prague SpringPrague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
. Teenager Michal Šebek (Michael Beran) develops a crush on his neighbor, Jindřiška Krausová (Kristýna Nováková). Michal's family is headed by a stubborn army officer who believes that the latest East German Tupperware
Tupperware
Tupperware is the name of a home products line that includes preparation, storage, containment, and serving products for the kitchen and home, which were first introduced to the public in 1946....
will sufficiently shame those American imperialists
American Empire
American imperialism is a term referring to the economic, military and cultural influence of the United States on other countries. The concept of an American Empire was first popularized during the presidency of James K...
, while Jindřiška's father is an ardent foe of the Communists
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
saved from prison only because he is a war hero. Much to the parents' dismay, the younger generation couldn't care less for politics. Instead, Michal sports a Beatles mop-top and runs a local film group specialising in Hollywood and pre-war French film
Cinema of France
The Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
s, while Jindřiška starts hanging out with a mysterious hipster.
Trivia
Pelíšky was screened at the 1999 Vancouver Film Festival.The Czech title is a plural and diminutive of the word "pelech", literally meaning animal den or burrow. It is used figuratively for a cosy hideout.
Cast
- Miroslav DonutilMiroslav DonutilMiroslav Donutil is a Czech theatrical, film and television actor, born in Třebíč. Since 1978 when he appeared as Hloch in Čistá řeka, Donutil has three decades of film and TV appearances. He dubbed the voice of Kevin Costner and Gérard Depardieu - Career :Donutil grew up in Brno...
| Mr. Šebek - Jiří Kodet | Mr. Kraus
- Simona Stašová | Mrs. Šebková
- Emília VášáryováEmília VášáryováEmília Vášáryová is a Slovak stage and screen actress, referred to as the First Lady of Slovak Theater. During her over five decades long career, she has received numerous awards including the Meritorious Artist , Alfréd Radok Award , Czech Lion Award Golden Globet Award , and most recently the...
| Mrs. Krausová - Bolek PolívkaBolek PolívkaBoleslav Polívka is a Czech film and theatre actor, mime, playwright and screenwriter. Polívka played in more than 40 films.- Career :...
| Strýc - Eva HolubováEva HolubováEva Holubová is a Czech actress. She has starred in a number of films. She is known for being self-cured from alcoholism . At the moment she can be found at Divadlo Kalich where she plays in several performances.-Selected filmography:...
| Učitelka - Marek Morvai | Petr
- Stella ZázvorkováStella ZázvorkováStella Zázvorková was a Czech actress from Prague.Zázvorková, an alumnus of Prague's theatre school of E.F. Burian, appeared in several hundred films and series. She was married to the actor Miloš Kopecký...
| Babička - Jaroslav Dušek | Saša Mašláň
- Michael Beran | Michal Šebek
- Kristýna NovákováKristýna NovákováKristýna Nováková is a Czech film and television actress, born in Prague.- Filmography :* Ordinace v růžové zahrade - Martina Tvrdíková* Night Owls - Martina...
| Jindřiška Krausová - Jiří Krejčík | Doctor Stárek
- Sylvie Koblížková | Uzlinka Šebková
- Ondřej Brousek | Elien
- Boris Hybner | Kouzelník
Soundtrack
The Pelíšky soundtrack was released in April, 1999, and contains clips of some of the actors memorable lines in addition to the musical numbers.- Blue Effect - "Slunečný hrob"
- Miroslav Kaman, Jaroslav Dušek - "Dvě dávky"
- Václav Neckář - "Tu kytaru jsem koupil kvůli tobě"
- Boleslav Polívka - "Nebe na zemi"
- Kristýna Nováková, Michael Beran, Ondřej Brousek - "Kozačky..."
- Petr Novák & Flamengo - "Povídej"
- Kristýna Nováková, Michael Beran - "Něco jako příbuzný"
- Waldemar MatuškaWaldemar MatuškaWaldemar Matuška was a Czech singer who became popular in his homeland during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1986, he emigrated to the United States.-Early career:...
- "Pojď se mnou, lásko má" - Emília VášáryováEmília VášáryováEmília Vášáryová is a Slovak stage and screen actress, referred to as the First Lady of Slovak Theater. During her over five decades long career, she has received numerous awards including the Meritorious Artist , Alfréd Radok Award , Czech Lion Award Golden Globet Award , and most recently the...
, Jiří Kodet]] - "Dávám bolševikovi rok" - Hana HegerováHana HegerováHana Hegerová , is a leading Czechoslovakian singer, actress and uncrowned queen of Czechoslovakian chanson. Foreign critics call her "The Great Lady of Chanson", "The Piaf from Prague", and "The Chanteuse with a Slavic Soul"...
- "Čerešně" - Miroslav Donutil, Boleslav Polívka, Silvie Koblížková - "Nerozbitná sklenička"
- Kučerovci - "Ajo mama"
- Miroslav Donutil, Michael Beran - "Gagarinův bratr"
- Kučerovci - "La mulher rendeira"
- Stella Zázvorková, Simona Stašová, Miroslav Donutil, Boleslav Polívka - "Maršál Malinovskij"
- Judita Čeřovská - "Je po dešti"
- Eva Holubová, Jaroslav Dušek, Marek Morvai-Javorský - "Vyděržaj, pijaněr"
- Václav Neckář - "Lékořice"
- Emília VášáryováEmília VášáryováEmília Vášáryová is a Slovak stage and screen actress, referred to as the First Lady of Slovak Theater. During her over five decades long career, she has received numerous awards including the Meritorious Artist , Alfréd Radok Award , Czech Lion Award Golden Globet Award , and most recently the...
, Kristýna Nováková, Jiří Kodet - "Noky" - Karel GottKarel GottKarel Gott is a Czech Schlager singer, and an amateur painter. He is considered as the most successful male singer in former Czechoslovakia and currently in the Czech Republic; he has being voted the Most Favorite Male Singer in the annual national pool Český slavík in total thirty-six times...
- "Santa lucia" - Miroslav Donutil, Boleslav Polívka, Jiří Kodet - "Kde udělali soudruzi z NDR chybu?"
- Waldemar MatuškaWaldemar MatuškaWaldemar Matuška was a Czech singer who became popular in his homeland during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1986, he emigrated to the United States.-Early career:...
- "Mrholí" - Eva Holubová, Jaroslav Dušek, Marek Morvai-Javorský - "Hoří hovno? ..."
- Karel GottKarel GottKarel Gott is a Czech Schlager singer, and an amateur painter. He is considered as the most successful male singer in former Czechoslovakia and currently in the Czech Republic; he has being voted the Most Favorite Male Singer in the annual national pool Český slavík in total thirty-six times...
& Olympic - "Trezor" - Jiří Kodet - "Proletáři všech zemí ..."
- Matadors - "Get Down From The Tree"
- Soulmen - "Baby Do Not Cry"
- Soulmen - "I Wish I Were"
- Blue Effect - "Snakes"
- Miroslav DonutilMiroslav DonutilMiroslav Donutil is a Czech theatrical, film and television actor, born in Třebíč. Since 1978 when he appeared as Hloch in Čistá řeka, Donutil has three decades of film and TV appearances. He dubbed the voice of Kevin Costner and Gérard Depardieu - Career :Donutil grew up in Brno...
, Boleslav Polívka - "Průměrná ženská" - Blue Effect - "Sluneční hrob"