Kolja (1996)

Director:

Jan Sverák

Writers:

Pavel Taussig (story)
Zdenek Sverák (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 January 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

The perfect grouch has met his match. A five-year-old boy named Kolya.

Plot:

Franta Louka is a concert cellist in Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia, a confirmed bachelor and a lady's man...

Plot Keywords:

Funeral | Debt | Orchestra | Lost | Friend

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 19 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Zdenek Sverák	...	Frantisek Louka
Andrei Chalimon	...	Kolja
Libuse Safránková	...	Klára
Ondrej Vetchý	...	Broz
Stella Zázvorková	...	Mother
Ladislav Smoljak	...	Houdek
Silvia Suvadova	...	Blanka
Liliya Malkina	...	Tamara (as Lilian Malkina)
Karel Hermánek	...	Musil
Petra Spalková	...	Pasa
Irina Bezrukova	...	Nadezda (as Irina Livanova)
Magda Sebestová	...	Zuzana
Nella Boudová	...	Brozová
René Pribil	...	Pokorný
Miroslav Táborský	...	Novotný

Also Known As:

Kolya (International: English title) (UK) (USA)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sensuality.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

Czech Republic

Language:

Slovak | Czech | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Taiwan:GP | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (cable rating) | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Norway:A | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG-13 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Biograf Jan Sverak

Trivia:

The child actor who plays Kolja, Andrei Chalimon, was not cast until three weeks before filming started.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Throughout the movie, many background cars are clearly newer than 1989 models. The film is set in 1989.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

Soundtrack:

Barcarolla

It's even better if you understand Czech

I like this movie very much and I am glad to read that most of you like it too. However, some comments here describe it as predictable and having the funny parts far from one another. It is not true. There are two more things that you cannot appreciate: 1) The background. I am a Czech myself and I remember the times which the film speaks about. There are many little details that probably come and go unnoticed for the foreigner eye but each of them is a symbol - it carries meaning that is so obvious for a Czech viewer. 2) The language is FUNNY! Sverak (the author) is a well known writer here. He is a GENIUS with the language, it's full of sweet little word puns that can never be translated into another language. You can translate the data, the information - but you lose the atmosphere. Believe me, even in the parts that look boring, there is something hidden between the lines - it's either funny, emotional, powerful... There is another great thing with playing with the differences between Czech and Russian. The languages are similar (to some extend) but there are differences that can result in misunderstandings - and they use it in the movie too. Czech people used to learn Russian language at schools so they can appreciate it.

I am so sorry that there is no way that you could enjoy even these parts of the movie. (Unless you'd want to learn Czech of course :-)

Just please, please, bear in mind that this is not just a shallow romantic movie. Yes, it is lovely - but there is more than that.