Film detail | The Emperor's Nightingale

Císařův slavík

A Thousand and One Night

Country: Czech Republic
Language: Czech
Subtitles: (No Subtitles)
Directed by: Jiří Trnka, Miloš Makovec
Year: 1948
Length: 70`
Story: Hans Christian Andersen
Screenplay: Jiří Trnka, Jiří Brdečka
Director of Photography: Ferdinand Pečenka
Music: Václav Trojan
Edited by: Helena Lebdusková , Jiří Trnka
Production: Loutkový Film Praha

Synopsis: The Emperor of China learns that one of the most beautiful things in his empire is the song of the nightingale. When he orders the nightingale brought to him, a kitchen maid leads the court to a nearby forest. The nightingale agrees to sing at court. The Emperor is so delighted with the bird's song that he keeps the nightingale in captivity. When he's given a bejeweled mechanical bird, he loses interest in the nightingale, who returns to the forest. The mechanical bird eventually wears out and breaks down. The Emperor is taken deathly ill a few years later. When the nightingale hears about this, he returns to the palace to sing for the Emperor. Death himself is so moved by his singing that he leaves and the Emperor recovers. The nightingale starts singing about the events in Emperor's lands so that he becomes known as the wisest man.

Jiří Trnka, Miloš Makovec: Jiří Trnka (1912-1969) was one of the most important personalities of Czech animated and puppet film. He graduated from UMPRUM and with his versatile talent established himself in various artistic areas. From his rich and world acclaimed works we'll mention The Czech Dream (Špalíček, 1947), Prince Bayaya (Bajaja, 1950), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Sen noci svatojánské, 1959), The Cybernetic Grandma (Kybernetická babička, 1962) and The Hand (Ruka, 1965). Miloš Makovec (1919-2000) was a screenwriter and director. His film career began with the production of documentaries, he then later also made short live-action promotional films. He worked for the news company Aktualita, Krátký Film Praha and at the film studios of Barrandov and Czechoslovak TV. He also made films under the pseudonym Miloš Musil. From his rich filmography we'll mention, e.g., The Emperor's Nightingale (Císařův slavík, 1948) and Lost Children (Ztracenci, 1956). He co-directed the films Of Things Supernatural (O věcech nadpřirozených, 1958) and Prague Nights (Pražské noci, 1968).

Where and when The Emperor's Nightingale is screened

Where	When	Reservation
Golden Apple Cinema, č. 6	May 29th at 15:50	N/A

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