Summary
Films aimed at children usually avoid serious issues or else present them in an idealised or unrealistic way. An exception to this tendency is Kapitán Korda (Captain Korda, 1970) written by screenwriter Milan Šimek and directed by Josef Pinkava. The poetic narrative tells the story of little Pepík who lives in a children’s home. While in hospital he forms a close bond with “Captain” Korda (Vladimír Brabec), in reality a train dispatcher who later decides to make plans for Pepík’s adoption. However, the joy of the childless couple and Pepík’s happiness too is suddenly disturbed by the boy’s mother… Even though Kapitán Korda was aimed at a children’s audience, it still carries traces of the socio-psychological drama that was typical of the 1960s. Child actor Michal Vavruša excelled in the role of Pepík and was subsequently chosen by Karel Kachyňa for his film Vlak do stanice Nebe (The Train to the Heaven Station, 1972) and by František Vláčil for Sirius (Sirius, 1974). Vavruša also starred in Pinkava’s short film Poštovský panáček (The Postman, 1974).
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