Black Peter (1964)

Reality movie of a few days in the life of a Czech teenager when he starts work.

Director:

Milos Forman

Writers:

Milos Forman, Jaroslav Papousek

Stars:

Ladislav Jakim, Pavla Martinkova, Jan Vostrcil

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ladislav Jakim	...	ucen Petr Vanek
Pavla Martinkova	...	Asa Vrbová
Jan Vostrcil	...	Petruv otec
Bozena Matuskova	...	Petrova matka
Pavel Sedlacek	...	zpevák Sako
Vladimír Pucholt	...	zednický ucen Cenda Semerád
Zdenek Kulhanek	...	Zdenek
Frantisek Kosina	...	Vedoucí samoobsluhy
Josef Koza	...	Zednický mistr
Antonín Pokorný	...	Zlodej
Jaroslav Kladrubsky	...	Inventurník
Frantiska Skalova	...	Nepoctivá zákaznice
Jaroslav Bendl	...	Franta Mára, Asin bývalý chlapec
Majka Gillarova	...	Asina kamarádka
Jaroslava Razova	...	Dívka

Storyline

Petr is 17 years old and starts work as a security worker against shoplifting in a busy self-service shop. His boss gives him pretty basic instructions, and Petr is pretty unsuccessful at work. He doesn't do much better at the dance hall either, and at home his bombastic father lectures him about how useless he is.

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Plot Keywords:

teenager | young man | 1960s | coming of age | dancing | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

This is Milos Forman's directorial debut.

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Connections

Referenced in Life As It Is: Milos Forman on His Czech Films, Part 1 (2018)

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Soundtracks

Zivot je pes
Music by Jirí Slitr
Lyrics by Jirí Suchý
Performed by Pavel Sedlacek

User Reviews

Black Peter

This brought to mind CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS, another early Czech New Wave film about a teenage apprentice who's none too excited about his work. Both are coming-of-age comedies with some moments of awkward teen romance. This film (Forman's first feature) actually predates Menzel's, and has more of a freeform, anecdotal structure. Although not explicitly a commentary on Communism, Petr's distaste for spying on customers clearly has some political implications. The film has a gentle, naturalistic pace with scenes that have a nice attention to detail. Ladislav Jakim struck me as a fine young actor, and I liked how the rival boy gradually developed into a more sympathetic character (particularly during the dance scene, which was my favorite part of the movie). Jan Vostrcil, the wonderful lead in Firemen's Ball, perhaps lays it on a little thick as the overbearing father, but it's a somewhat humorous performance. Although the comedy is quite mellow and subdued, there are a few laugh out loud moments. Unfortunately, the Facets DVD sports an ugly transfer, and woefully incomplete subtitles. Entire swaths of dialogue went by without translation.

Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Czech

Release Date:

17 April 1964 (Czechoslovakia)

Also Known As:

Black Sheep

Filming Locations:

Czech Republic

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmové studio Barrandov

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1