Film detail | English Strawberries

Anglické jahody

Competition of Films from Visegrad Countries

Countries: Czech Republic, Slovak Republic
Language: Czech
Subtitles: English
Directed by: Vladimír Drha
Year: 2008
Length: 114`
Rating: 15
Story: Martin Šafránek
Screenplay: Martin Šafránek
Director of Photography: Vladimír Křepelka
Music: Tomáš Klus
Edited by: Boris Machytka
Production: First Film, Česká televize, MMG

Synopsis: The film is set in the summer of 1968 during the occupation by "allied" armies. Tomáš is supposed to leave to pick strawberries in England on August 21, 1968, though he really wants to emigrate. But the occupation brings everything to a halt and the train does not leave at all. Tomáš wanders the streets watching the confused invaders. He gets closer to Táňa, whom he loves, but who is pregnant with their schoolmate Sláma, and the occupation is explained by Lebedev, a Russian deserter. The young try to sort out their relationships and priorities in a cottage belonging to Táňa's parents and the Sinek family follow events by means of TV and radio. Vladimír Drha tries to view the events of August 21, 1968 from the perspective of ordinary people.

Vladimír Drha: Vladimír Drha (1944) is the key directing personality of TV PRIMA. His debut film was A New Boy Arrived Today (1981, Dneska přišel nový kluk). His films Teeth and Heart (1985, Do zubů a do srdíčka), The Suffering of Imagination (1989, Muka obraznosti), and The Pearl Maiden (1997, O perlové panně) were very well received. The Conception of My Younger Brother (2000, Početí mého mladšího bratra) received several awards.