A historical film that takes place on the eve of the thirty year war combines aspects of fairy-tales with historical dramas, fencing with a child heroes who find themselves in great dangers. We are in the year 1611 and mercenaries that had previously invaded Czech lands now have to withdraw before the Hungarian king's army. In this chaos a magical bottle, that fulfills the owner one single wish, appears among some fugitives - however after the fulfillment it has to be sold for half it's price to a new owner. The director Ludvík Ráža has created an attractive and surprisingly cruel film aimed not only at young viewers.
Direction
Ráža merges brutal history with childlike wonder, then shatters both.
Production
1611 chaos recreated with mud, blood, and genuine period dread.
Practical Effects
Sword fights that feel dangerous because they actually were.
Director
Ludvík Ráža
Michaela Kudláčková
Magdalena Korálková
Ivan Vyskočil
muzikář Matouš Psík
Bruno O'Ya
pasovský fendrich Hoff
Luděk Munzar
velitel hořovických biřiců Vaněk
Josef Karlík
krčmář Kryštof
Dagmar Havlová Veškrnová
děvečka Keruše
Jiří Holý
muzikant Kašehrnek
Petr Haničinec
kupec Bartoš z Krumlova
Martin Růžek
hořovický rychtář Holoubek, krčmářův strýc
Boris Rösner
pasovský voják Sepp
Petr Oliva
pasovský voják Niklas
Ota Sklenčka
nový rychtář
Josef Somr
Zdeněk Srstka
Miroslav Moravec
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made during normalized Czechoslovakia, the film smuggles political despair through 17th-century allegory — the mercenaries' withdrawal mirroring Soviet-era powerlessness.
Dagmar Havlová would become Czechoslovakia's First Lady; this was her final film role before Václav Havel's presidency.
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