Directed by:
Karel KachyňaCinematography:
Jaromír ŠofrComposer:
Jan NovákCast:
Zdeněk Lstibůrek, Naděžda Gajerová, Vlado Müller, Gustáv Valach, Yuriy Nazarov, Iva Janžurová, Jindra Rathová, Jaroslava Vysloužilová (more)Plots(1)
It is the spring 1945 and the frontline is getting closer to the small Moravian village of Nesovice. Twelve-year old Oldřich Vařeka, nicknamed Shorty [Pinďa] for his tiny stature, observes the events around him, recalls his memories and also finds comfort in his fantasy. Although he is an only son, his father treats him harshly and brutally punishes his every trifle. Maybe he wreaks his vengeance on him for his own unsuccessful effort to compete with the richest farmers in the village. The boys from the wealthy farms poke fun at Shorty and he takes his revenge on them in petty malice. From a hide-out, the boy then watches the fleeing German soldiers. The Soviet troops are getting closer and the farmers including Vařeka send their sons with the cattle and horses into the forests, fearful of requisitions. They themselves, nevertheless, make no scruples to break into an abandoned German farm and steal everything. In the forest, Shorty has the family's only horse, and the wagon with it, stolen by three German fugitives. The boy fears his father's punishment and tries to steal one of the horses from a camp of Soviet soldiers, but is almost caught. In the morning, he meets a friendly Soviet officer and shows him a motorcycle left by Germans which he had found. They together enjoy a wild ride on the motorcycle, but the officer is killed by a German bullet. In astonishment, Oldřich watches the hypocritical behaviour of the villagers who force their fellow-citizen Cyril Vitlich to commit suicide on the basis of purported collaboration with the Germans. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Zdeněk Lstibůrek](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/277/277860_0830c6.jpg)
Zdeněk Lstibůrek
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
![Naděžda Gajerová](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/275/275461_406f9c.jpg)
Naděžda Gajerová
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Kočičí hra (1982) (theatrical recording)
Naši furianti (1983) (theatrical recording)
Higher Principle (1960)
![Vlado Müller](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268684_7f070d.jpg)
Vlado Müller
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Zhŕňajova nevesta (1978) (TV movie)
The Copper Tower (1970)
Death Is Called Engelchen (1963)
![Gustáv Valach](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270825_d80898.jpg)
Gustáv Valach
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Pštrosí večierok (1969) (TV movie)
Shadows of a Hot Summer (1977)
Henrich IV. (1987) (theatrical recording)
![Yuriy Nazarov](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/812/157812624_02442a.jpg)
Yuriy Nazarov
Soviet Union
Best movies:
Black Sun (2017) (series)
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
Liberation: Breakthrough (1970)
![Iva Janžurová](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/006/164006733_90f876.jpg)
Iva Janžurová
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
Ikaros' Fall (1977) (TV movie)
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
Ubohý pan Kufalt (1981) (TV movie)
![Jindra Rathová](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/354/159354840_d8867a.jpg)
Jindra Rathová
Best movies:
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
The Nun's Night (1967)
Crime in the Night Club (1968)
![Jaroslava Vysloužilová](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/394/394614_db4605.jpg)
Jaroslava Vysloužilová
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
All My Compatriots (1968)
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
Cops and Robbers (2001) (series)
Eduard Alexandrovič Bredun
Soviet Union
Best movies:
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
Jiří Chmelař
Best movies:
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
Cesta Karla IV. do Francie a zpět (1981) (theatrical recording)
Od zítřka nečaruji (1979)
![Josef Karlík](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/275/275312_c096b0.jpg)
Josef Karlík
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
How to Get Dad Into Reform School (1978) (TV movie)
Racek (1976) (theatrical recording)
Lekár umierajúceho času (1983) (series)
![Vladimír Stach](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/275/275740_960550.jpg)
Vladimír Stach
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Alexandr Dumas starší (1970) (series)
Waterloo (1967) (TV movie)
Cesta řeky k moři (1966) (TV movie)
Pavel Wuršer
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Cutting It Short (1980)
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
A 105 p. c. Alibi (1959)
Jan Handt
Best movies:
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
Vlastimil Kadeřábek
Best movies:
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
Miroslav Lerche
Best movies:
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
Jaroslav Urban
Best movies:
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
Moře začíná za vsí (1987)
Hranaři (2011)
![Milan Jedlička](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/276/276237_da87ad.jpg)
Milan Jedlička
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
Břetislav a Jitka (1974) (TV movie)
Accused (1964)
P. Bohdanecký
Best movies:
Long Live the Republic! (1965)
O. Lozan
Best movies:
Long Live the Republic! (1965)