Babí léto

Czech Republic

Synopsis

A tragicomic story of a youthful seventy-five-year-old man, an eternal dreamer and joker who behaves very differently from his beloved yet worrying wife: he refuses to reconcile himself to living as an old man resignedly preparing himself for death. Instead, he has chosen to live life as a never-ending challenge, and thus each new day brings a wonderful opportunity for new adventure. His faithful friend from the operetta helps him inject a bit of theater into his world and in this way to fulfill his longtime dreams. Just as convincingly our hero manages to enact various roles: as a ticket inspector, a mountain climber, a philanthropist, and as an emeritus member of the Metropolitan Opera who decides to buy a palace. In a number of richly comic situations full of both gentle and black humor he daily defends his carefree and independent ways to his wife, and amply demonstrates the art of living.

Director's Biography

After graduating from FAMU (Czech Film and TV Academy), Vladimir Michälek worked as an assistant director to primarily foreign directors. At that time began to make documentary films and has been directing feature films since 1989. He has worked with 26 directors, including: Margarethe von Trotta (Rosa Luxembourg, 1985),
Bernhard Wicky (The Spider's Web I., II., 1986, 1988), R. Hauff (The Blue Eye, 1989), A. Klagen (The
Bertinis, 1987), P. Weigel (Romeo and Juliet in the Village, 1989), Adrew Birkin (The Burning Secret, 1987), Ted Kotchef (The Shooter, 1995)

Filmography:

1994 AMERICA (AMERIKA)
1996 FORGOTTEN LIGHT (ZAPOMENUTE SVETLO)
1998 SEKAL HAS TO DIE (JE TFEBA ZABIT SEKALA)
1999 JISTOTA, (CERTAINTY), TV film
2000 ANGEL EXIT (ANDÖL EXIT)
2001 BABI LETO
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Vladimir Michálek

Written by: Jiri Hubac

Produced by: Jirí Bartoska, Jaroslav Kucera, Jaroslav Boucek

Cinematography: Martin Štrba

Editing: Jirí Brozek

Original Score: Michal Lorenc

Sound Design: Radim Hladík Jr.

Cast: Zita Kabátová (Maruska Grulichová), Stella Zázvorková (Emílie), Vlastimil Brodsky (Frantisek), Stanislav Zindulka (Eduard), Ondřej Vetchý (Jára), Petra Spalkova (Králová), Jirí Lábus (Real estate agent)

Nominations and Awards

  • Feature Film Selection 2002