Archive of films Pied Piper / Krysař

Czech Republic
2003, 70 min

Section: Czech Films 2003-2004
Year: 2004

A story of love, sin and hope, freely inspired by Viktor Dyk’s novel of the same name and by the musical by Daniel Landa, whose music accompanies the film. The movie was made in a mere 24 hours on New Year’s Eve in Prague and thus found its way into The Guinness Book of Records.

Synopsis

This stylised interpretation of the classic Pied Piper legend takes place in the mysterious streets of old Prague on New Year’s Eve. The Devil has charged the man with the magic pipe to destroy the sinful city at midnight. The Pied Piper, gifted also with the ability to lead people to purification, meets the pregnant Agnes and her bridegroom Kristián, as they go from church to church in an open cabriolet, begging without success to be married. Until now the Pied Piper had not known love, and his meeting with Agnes is like a bolt from the blue. Kristián calls out in vain for his beloved, in vain does the Devil set traps for them. During the night a fateful love is born which must be redeemed. Everyone loses something, everyone must forfeit something… Director Brabec took inspiration from Viktor Dyk’s novel of the same name, and also from the music in Daniel Landa’s successful musical (which is also used the film). But above all he relied on the jubilant atmosphere of a contemporary Prague New Year’s Eve. The Pied Piper was shot in a mere 24 hours (New Year’s Eve 2002 to New Year’s Day 2003) and thus deserved a place in The Guinness Book of Records.

About the director

F. A. Brabec (1954, Prague) is a graduate of Prague’s Film Academy (FAMU, 1975-81). He worked for ten years at Barrandov Studios, gradually working his way up to independent cameraman. He made his debut as independent cameraman with Time of the Servants (1989). His work with director Jan Svěrák was especially important: Elementary School (1992), Accumulator 1 (1994) and The Ride (1994 – Czech Lion for Best Camera Work). He made his debut as a director with a transcription of Alfred Jarry’s Ubu roi (Czech Lions for Best Camera, Visual Concept and Music). He won more Czech Lions for his unconventional adaptation of Erben’s collection of poetry Wild Flowers (himself for camera, others for music, sound and poster). He returned to the stylised interpretation of a classic text with his experimental Rat Catcher, which was filmed in twenty-four hours during New Year’s Eve 2002 and New Year’s Day 2003 in the historic centre of Prague. As well as feature films he has made a number of commercials and music videos ("Ave Maria" for Lucie Bílá, for example, won a Czech Grammy Award in 1996). The criminal film Bolero is his latest film.

Contacts

J.B.J. FILM, spol. s r.o.
Bítovská 1227, 140 00, Praha 4
Czech Republic
Tel: 608 702 079
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.jbj-film.cz

Bontonfilm, a.s.
Na Poříčí 1047/26, 110 00, Praha 1
Czech Republic
Tel: +420 257 415 111
Fax: +420 257 415 113
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.bontonfilm.cz

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About the film

Color, 35 mm
European premiere

Section:	Czech Films 2003-2004

Director:	F.A. Brabec
Screenplay:	F. A. Brabec, Ivana Nováková
Dir. of Photography:	F. A. Brabec
Music:	Daniel Landa
Editor:	Jiří Brožek
Producer:	Alena Jáklová
Production:	J. B. J. FILM, spol. s. r. o.
Cast:	Petr Jákl, Ester Geislerová, Richard Krajčo, Karel Dobrý
Contact:	J.B.J. FILM, spol. s r.o., Bontonfilm, a.s.

Guests

F.A. Brabec

Film Director

Petr Jákl Jr.

Producer