The Rafters

Colour, 35 mm
Czech Republic, 2005, 104 min
Section: Czech Films 2005-2006

Synopsis

After the hugely successful Snowboarders (2004), director Karel Janák has come up with another teenage comedy, this time swapping his snowboards for rafts. During what is probably the last summer holidays both adolescent heroes will spend with their parents, as in the majority of films of this type, the emphasis is on having a good time as a “grown up”. The more experienced Dany is helping his friend Filip lose his virginity. The camp, which is also home to girls from the water sports course, gives them plenty of opportunities. But then there are Dany’s parents, who are trying to revive their marriage, and the hero’s unbearable younger brother. The seemingly trivial objective is complicated by other obstacles – the rapids and the alcohol… This vacation comedy successfully combines the popular Hollywood teenage comedy sub-genre with contemporary Czech life situations. The appeal of this film, which certainly isn’t aimed just at young audiences, is enhanced with performances from the stars of Snowboarders, Vojta Kotek and Jiří Mádl.

About the director

Karel Janák (b. 1970, Prague) is one of the commercially most promising Czech directors of the young generation. He studied at the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering (1993) and he worked as a systems administrator for a computer firm. However, he took a course in direction at FAMU (2001) which led him to feature film. He already made a name for himself during his studies with the films Kateřina at Home Alone (1995) and The Orchard (1996), which brought him Honourable Mentions at the FAMU festivals in 1996 and 1997. Straight after graduation he made the children’s comedy Aliens in Colorado (2001), produced by Czech TV, which won an award at the Children’s Film Festival in Chemnitz, Germany. He also directed advertising spots (Toyota, Sazka, Nestlé) and TV trailers (Titanic, Independence Day, Indiana Jones), many of which won awards at specialised festivals. His feature debut Snowboarders was one of the most popular Czech films of 2004.