Night Owls

In her second feature – an intimate story of a girl caught between childhood and adulthood – Oscar-nominated director Michaela Pavlátová focuses on authenticity and the alluring environment of Prague’s Karlín district.

Děti noci
Czechia 2008
82 min.
15+
  • This film is available until 31. 7. 2025 in these territories: Czechia, Slovakia.
About

Ofka is stuck in a strange torpor: while the majority of her school friends have continued with their studies, she refuses to leave the delusory comfort of her childhood which is, however, rapidly beginning to stifle her. She works the night shift at a 24-hour convenience store owned by her brother-in-law Eda, and lets the snatches of conversation wash over her, as regulars and casual customers come in with their tales of wasted lives, along with distant friends who, like her, are awake when the rest of the city sleeps. She occasionally escapes to have a drink with her friends on the banks of the Vltava, and she roams the streets with the oddball Ubr who, apart from being hopelessly in love with her, has a fascination for the contents of garbage cans. Ofka tries to avoid Míra who has left her. But it’s becoming increasingly obvious to her that, one day, she’ll have to leave her childhood behind, cross the boundaries of the neighbourhood where she was born, and get on with her life.

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Credits
Director: Michaela Pavlátová
Based on: Irena Hejdová
Screenplay: Irena Hejdová, Michaela Pavlátová
Cinematography: Martin Štrba
Music: DelaDap, Jan Čechtický
Sound: Daniel Němec
Editing: Tonička Janková
Production Design: Jan Pjena Novotný
Producer: Petr Oukropec, Kateřina Černá
Co-production: Jaroslav Kučera
Costumes: Jaroslava Procházková
Cast: Martha Issová, Jiří Mádl, Lenka Termerová, Jan Dolanský, David Novotný, Kristýna Nováková
Awards

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

2008 – Martha Issová (Best Actress)

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

2008 – Jiří Mádl (Best Actor)

Czech Lions

2009 – Lenka Termerová (Best Supporting Actress)

Links
  • This film is available until 31. 7. 2025 in these territories: Czechia, Slovakia.