KOLYA

Czech Republic, 1996, 105 minutes, Colour.
Zdnek Sverak, Andrei Khalimon.
Directed by Jan Sverak.

A familiar story but done with sensitivity and insight. Writer-director, Jan Sverak, has made the film a family affair, directing his father as the crotchety musician who leads a quiet and lonely life as the Soviet empire is crumbling. For money, he enters an arranged marriage with a Russian migrant who leaves him stranded with her young son, Kolya. Of course, it is quite a mismatch, but the incidents are so delightful and the actors, young and old, seem so right that we can believe this tale of one man and a baby! I was part of the Catholic jury at the 1996 Venice Film Festival where Kolya was screened out of competition. However, it made such an impression on the jury that we gave it a special mention. Our response has been backed up by the international awards and acclaim. It is a wonderfully humane film but it also shows us background of the events in what is now the Czech Republic as it freed itself from the Soviet bloc. Strong sentiment.

The screenplay was written by its star Zdnek Sverak and was directed by the star’s son Jan Sverak who went on to make Dark Blue World.

1.A Czech industry achievement? Awards? Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film?

2.The pattern of the odd couple, strangers, bonds, friends, family? The setting of Czechoslovakia in the 1980s? The overthrow of communism?

3.The Prague settings, the countryside, the country towns? The feel of the country?

4.The musical score, Psalm 23 (and Kolya singing it at the end)? The classic pieces, the performances for funerals, concerts?

5.The plane, the window, the clouds? The framework for the film?

6.Introduction to Franta, his age, not marrying, living alone, his being sacked from the orchestra, the photo on the wall, his playing at funerals? His sexual attraction, Klara, taunting her? The phone calls to his girlfriends? His work in painting headstones? Wanting a car? Visits to his mother, her financial needs, the guttering? His brother emigrating? Her making comparisons between the two?

7.His work at the cemetery, his friendship with the undertaker, the proposal about the fake marriage, his refusal, the pressures, his mother? His decision to go ahead, the meeting with the aunt, with the prospective wife? The plan, the exchange of money? The ceremony, the separate wedding night? His character?

8.The aunt dying of a stroke, the ambulance men bringing Kolya to his apartment? His bewilderment, his previous experience of children, avoiding them, irritated by them? The language difficulties, only Czech and Russian? Kolya looking out the window? His application for Kolya to be taken away? His request of the undertaker and his wife, their being busy, the children, her giving birth? His fear of the interrogation by the police? Their taking him in, the friendly questioning, his lies, the police chief, his interrogation and threats? - the later irony that they would be supporting the overthrow of the regime?

9.Franta and Kolya and their bonding? The tea and Kolya drinking it, drawing, the bits of language, the flags on the window and their praising them? The visit of the cellist and Kolya interrupting the sexual encounter? Kolya at the funerals, listening to the psalm, watching the doors shut, his later playing the puppet show with a funeral? His drawing funerals? Buying the shoes, getting lost in the Underground? The sign with adults holding children’s hands, his holding Franta’s hand? The baths, the phone call to his grandmother with the hand shower, his weeping in the bath? His wanting his mother? Seeing the soldiers, Franta’s mother discovering he was Russian? His listening to the fairy tale on the phone and wanting it again? The portrait of the child, the portrait of the older man?

10.Franta, his life, a new start, bonding with the boy, the quiet relationship, his being upset when he was lost, not wanting to let him go? The visit of Social Services – and his wanting to change the application?

11. Klara, her singing, the sexual attraction, the visits to Franta’s apartment, her husband, helping when Kolya was ill, her final pregnancy?

12.Franta’s friends, the undertaker, the people in the orchestra, with the funerals, in the town, the friend helping him hide out – and the irony of the vision about the fall of communism? Their going to the rally in Wenceslas Square?

1. Kolya’s mother, her going to Germany, her friend in Germany? The return after the fall of communism, reunited with Kolya, his hesitation?

2.Franta watching the news, November 1989, their going to rally, rattling the keys – and the communist officials there as well?

3.Kolya and his leaving Franta, calling him Dad, the love for his mother and for Franta? In the plane, the print on the window, singing the psalm?

4.Franta, playing, the new Czechoslovakia – then the Czech Republic? The symbol of humanising the Czech people – and freedom?