Noční motýl
Directed by:
František ČápCinematography:
Ferdinand PečenkaComposer:
Roman BlahníkCast:
Hana Vítová, Svatopluk Beneš, Adina Mandlová, Gustav Nezval, Marie Glázrová, Eduard Kohout, Elena Hálková, Jaroslav Marvan, Rudolf Hrušínský, Marie Blažková (more)Plots(1)
Marta Dekasová works as a governess for a family living in a garrison town. The officers are attracted by her charm, in particular lieutenant Kala, but the girl is in love with the gloomy first lieutenant Varga. She cannot keep her feelings a secret even when she discovers he is married. Marta's declaration of love is rejected since Varga loves his wife, the actress Helena. The unhappy girl then succumbs to Kala's passions. Marta's jealous employer sacks her. Marta has to leave and subsequently meets her friend Anča in the capital; in her dishonourable profession, Anča is known as Kiki. Marta moves in with her and becomes a singer in a winebar. There the young student Michal falls hopelessly in love with her. During a New Year's Eve celebration Varga, his wife and Kala visit the bar. Marta still longs for the first lieutenant. She runs out into the street after him and begs him to embrace her. Michal sees them together and shoots the girl and mortally wounds her. Standing over her dead body Varga realises how strong her love for him was. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (1)
There are three or four excellent films in the 1941 Protectorate production. I consider Nocturnal Butterfly one of them. It is a unique film based on a great story set between 1905 and 1907 and shortly before that period when Marta Dekasová gradually but inevitably became Štefka. Hana Vítová has the role of a lifetime here. There was no spicier actress in Czech cinema at that time... It’s too bad because after Baarová's departure to Italy, Hana could have been her successor. The other star here is the incredibly overacting Adina, who unfortunately rather spoiled her role with her own lines. So the real attention, besides Vítová, is drawn to the ethereally perfect Marie Glázrová as the theater diva Helena Vargová. The Beneš-Nezval duo then perfectly second both protagonists, Kohout's Leopold belongs to Mandlová’s Kiki (although he doesn't resort to expression like her) and Hrušínský slowly profiles into the youngest lover. Do you appreciate cabarets, joy girl, and other selected company? Provencal is open.
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