Vlak u snijegu
Encyclopedia
Vlak u snijegu first called Djeca Velikog Sela --"The children of Veliko Selo") is a children's novel written by Croatia
n novelist Mato Lovrak
(1899-1974), then a young schoolteacher inspired by actual events, in 1933.
Vlak u snijegu has been translated into German
, Hungarian
, Polish
, Czech
and Slovenian.
There, they eat chocolate in a chocolate factory and spend the evening at a movie theater.
As they are supposed to return to their village, their teacher gets ill and must stay in a hospital.
The children travel back alone, and the train gets blocked by a snowdrift.
With the help of the children, the railroad workers manage to clear the way.
by director Mate Relja, who wrote the screenplay
and changed the story somewhat:
the children traveled to Zagreb
, where they visited the Upper Town, National Theatre, the Zoo
and a printing press.
The film was first shown in Bjelovar
on June 10, 1976. That same year, it received the Jelen award at the Pula
film festival
. It has been shown in 30 countries.
It was shot in Zagreb
, and near Bjelovar
in the villages of Ciglena where most of the children came from, Tomaš
where the school and village scenes were shot, and Grginac on the railroad between Bjelovar
and Kloštar Podravski
.
Another novel by Mato Lovrak
, Družba Pere Kvržice ("Pero Kvržica's gang") was the basis for a film with the same title.
Slavko Štimac
(as Ljuban), and
Gordana Inkret (as Draga) and Željko Malčić (as Pero), both from the "Franko Vinter" Elementary school in Bjelovar
.
The name of the novelist, Mato Lovrak, has now been given to the Bjelovar-Kloštar Podravski line.
, is a tale of friendship and solidarity.
The text, written by Drago Britvić, begins this way:
"Kad se mnogo malih složi,
"Ta se snaga stoput množi,
"A to znači da smo jači,
"Kad se skupimo u roj.
"Mala iskra požar skriva,
"Kap po kap i rijeka biva.
"Hajde zato svi u jato,
"Kao vrapci živ, živ, živ."
Ref:
"Kad se male ruke slože, sve se može, sve se može."
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n novelist Mato Lovrak
Mato Lovrak
- Biography :Mato Lovrak was born on 8 March 1899 in Veliki Grđevac.Lovrak finished teacher training college in Zagreb and served as teacher in Kutina, Veliki Grđevac, Veliki Zdenci and Zagreb. Lovrak wrote realistic short stories and novels for children....
(1899-1974), then a young schoolteacher inspired by actual events, in 1933.
Vlak u snijegu has been translated into German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
, Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
, 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...
and Slovenian.
Plot
At the suggestion of their teacher, fourth grade schoolchildren in imaginary "Jabukovac, near Veliko Selo", create an association and organize a field trip to the nearby town.There, they eat chocolate in a chocolate factory and spend the evening at a movie theater.
As they are supposed to return to their village, their teacher gets ill and must stay in a hospital.
The children travel back alone, and the train gets blocked by a snowdrift.
With the help of the children, the railroad workers manage to clear the way.
Film
In 1976 the novel was made into a children's film of the same nameVlak u snijegu (film)
Vlak u snijegu is a Croatian Children and Adventure film directed by Mate Relja. It was released on June 10, 1976.It is based on the children's novel Vlak u snijegu written by Mato Lovrak , then a young schoolteacher inspired by actual events, in 1933, and first titled Djeca Velikog Sela...
by director Mate Relja, who wrote the screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
and changed the story somewhat:
the children traveled to Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, where they visited the Upper Town, National Theatre, the Zoo
Zagreb Zoo
Zagreb Zoo is one of three zoo parks in Croatia.It has 275 animal species represented by 2,225 animals and located within the Maksimir Park.The zoo opened its doors on June 27, 1925...
and a printing press.
The film was first shown in Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
on June 10, 1976. That same year, it received the Jelen award at the Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
film festival
Pula Film Festival
The Pula Film Festival is the oldest Croatian film festival which is held annually in a Roman amphitheater known as the Pula arena since 1954. The festival is usually held in the summer, in July or August....
. It has been shown in 30 countries.
It was shot in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, and near Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
in the villages of Ciglena where most of the children came from, Tomaš
Tomaš
Tomaš is a village in Croatia....
where the school and village scenes were shot, and Grginac on the railroad between Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
and Kloštar Podravski
Kloštar Podravski
Kloštar Podravski is a municipality in the Koprivnica-Križevci county in Croatia. According to the 2001 census, there are 3,603 inhabitants in the area, with Croats forming an absolute majority....
.
Another novel by Mato Lovrak
Mato Lovrak
- Biography :Mato Lovrak was born on 8 March 1899 in Veliki Grđevac.Lovrak finished teacher training college in Zagreb and served as teacher in Kutina, Veliki Grđevac, Veliki Zdenci and Zagreb. Lovrak wrote realistic short stories and novels for children....
, Družba Pere Kvržice ("Pero Kvržica's gang") was the basis for a film with the same title.
Actors
The main actors wereSlavko Štimac
Slavko Štimac
Slavko Štimac is a Serbian actor. He graduated from The Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, Serbia.Slavko Štimac made his screen debut in the 1972 film Vuk samotnjak...
(as Ljuban), and
Gordana Inkret (as Draga) and Željko Malčić (as Pero), both from the "Franko Vinter" Elementary school in Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
.
Trains
A replica of the train from the film has been installed at the Lovrak center in Veliki Grđevac.The name of the novelist, Mato Lovrak, has now been given to the Bjelovar-Kloštar Podravski line.
Theme song
The theme song "Kad se male ruke slože" ("When little hands join together"), written by popular singer Arsen DedićArsen Dedic
Arsen Dedić is a Croatian singer-songwriter who has been prominent in the Croatian as well as former Yugoslav music scene. Dedić writes and performs chansons as well as film music...
, is a tale of friendship and solidarity.
The text, written by Drago Britvić, begins this way:
"Kad se mnogo malih složi,
"Ta se snaga stoput množi,
"A to znači da smo jači,
"Kad se skupimo u roj.
"Mala iskra požar skriva,
"Kap po kap i rijeka biva.
"Hajde zato svi u jato,
"Kao vrapci živ, živ, živ."
Ref:
"Kad se male ruke slože, sve se može, sve se može."