Archive of films Max, Sally and the Magic Phone / Mach, Šebestová a kouzelné sluchátko
Czech Republic
2001, 100 min
Section:
Czech Films
Year: 2002
A family comedy from screenwriter Miloš Macourek and director Václav Vorlíček in which Max, Sally and their dog Jonathan – well-known Czech cartoon characters – decide it’s time to see what real life is all about. They make it to the human world with the aid of their magic telephone, and unleash a whirlwind of bizarre changes and a flood of humorous situations.
Synopsis
Out of sheer curiosity, the ever-popular characters (Max, Sally and their dog Jonathan) from the Czech animated series Mach and Šebestová decide one day to investigate the real world. With the help of their magic telephone, they climb out of Grandma Řeháčková’s TV right into the house where she lives with her grandson Jakub. Because grandma and Jakub know the trio from the series very well, they give them a place to stay and try to be as accommodating as possible. In return, Max and Sally use the magic telephone to whisk Jakub off to see his parents who have been working in China for far too long. On their return they bring with them a new friend, Lin, the son of one of Jakub’s dad’s colleagues, who longed to see something of the Czech Republic. The telephone is well able to perform real miracles, it’s just that it can also, as often happens in the cartoon, create a lot of real confusion. And because the magical device will perform its trick for anyone regardless of their intentions, good or bad, it soon turns Grandma Řeháčková’s quiet home into utter chaos.... This comedy is packed with a plethora of humorous situations sure to please audiences of all ages, while top quality computer-generated effects help dissolve the border between the cartoon world and reality.
About the director
Václav Vorlíček (b. 1930, Prague) graduated in direction in 1956 from Prague’s Film Academy (FAMU). He began directing on his own at the beginning of the sixties, gaining greatest popularity and recognition in the comedy and fairy-tale genres. He has often worked with author and screenwriter Miloš Macourek and their cooperation has produced a number of successful titles which generally pit the fantastic world of special effects against the reality of contemporary life. Filmography (selected): Who Wants to Kill Jessie? (1966), Mr. Foustka’s Dog Spells Trouble for Agent W4C (1967), "Sir, You’re a Widow!" (1970), The Girl on the Broomstick (1971), Three Nuts for Cinderella (1973), How to Drown Dr. Mráček, or The End of Water Sprites in Bohemia (1974), How About Some Spinach? (1977), The Prince and Evening Star (1978), Rumburak (1984), The Magic Pouch (1996), The Firebird (1997), Queen of the Lake (1998), The Falcon King (2000). Václav Vorlíček’s films have often been honoured at both domestic and international festivals.
About the film
Black & white, 35 mm
Section: | Czech Films |
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Director: | Václav Vorlíček |
Screenplay: | Miloš Macourek, Václav Vorlíček |
Dir. of Photography: | Juraj Šajmovič |
Music: | Ondřej Soukup |
Editor: | Bořek Lipský |
Producer: | Ateliery Bonton Zlín, a.s. |
Production: | Ateliéry Bonton Zlín, a.s. |
Cast: | Robert Hájek, Kristýna Květová, Stella Zázvorková, Iva Janžurová, Jiří Lábus, Josef Somr, Petr Nárožný, Jitka Molavcová |