Directed by Bohdan Sláma, this powerful story brings to life an individual whose personal crisis forces him to take the side of good and fight for it, even though others have long since given up. Jiří Hájíček, author of the book of the same name, which is part of the Rural Trilogy of Moral Unrest, is participating in the project for the first time as a screenwriter. The adaptation of this acclaimed work will appear on Czech Television screens in 2027.
"Dešťová hůl" is a rural novel with a strong central theme, namely land and property. Since time immemorial, the countryside has stood and fallen with issues surrounding land and its ownership. As a writer, I have consistently addressed this phenomenon. In addition, "Dešťová hůl" features distinctive middle-aged characters. When I wrote the novel more than ten years ago, I was the same age as Zbyněk Polecký (Kryštof Hádek) and Bohuna (Petra Špalková). I like to write from the perspective of my generation, my peers. And now this village story has been given a second life, a film life. I was interested to see whether the story and the main characters would stand up to the film version, which is different from the literary one. And so I set about writing the screenplay. After many versions, I began to believe that Dešťová hůl had film potential. The story and characters changed a bit in the screenplay, deepening in some ways, with some storylines disappearing and others being added, as is often the case with adaptations of literary works. I am glad for this experience as a screenwriter; it has enriched me. And I am curious to see what else the miniseries will surprise me with when I see it filmed and directed by Bohdan Sláma," says writer Jiří Hájíček.
Bohdan Sláma, who has directed films such as Sucho (Dry) and Bába z ledu (The Ice Queen), took on the role of director. "I read everything Jiří Hájíček wrote. Jaroslav Sedláček and I agreed that it was a great basis for further development. We had to shift or emphasize many motifs, but thanks to the script written by Jiří, we managed to retain the most important elements of the book."
"Jiří Hájíček is one of the best contemporary Czech writers, his book won the title of Book of the Year in a poll conducted by Lidové noviny, and I am very happy that we managed to put together a truly exclusive cast. What's more, the transformation of the contemporary countryside is a topic that public television should address, because commercial television will never cover it," explains creative producer Jaroslav Sedláček.
screenplay: Jiří Hájíček // cinematography: Marek Diviš // executive producer: Monika Effenbergerová // creative producer: Jaroslav Sedláček // director: Bohdan Sláma // cast: Kryštof Hádek, Jenovéfa Boková, Petra Špalková, and others
Press Department of Czech Television
Českobudějovický deník, Klára Skálová
The silence in the South Czech Philharmonic hall South Czech Philharmonic České Budějovice is different than usual. No one is waiting for the baton, but for the command "Action." The musicians sit in their places, members of the film crew move inconspicuously between the music stands, and the lights are aimed elsewhere than during a normal concert. For several days last week, České Budějovice was transformed into a film location, and the novel Dešťová hůl (The Rain Stick) was given its visual form.
The new Czech Television miniseries, based on the novel of the same name by South Bohemian writer Jiří Hájíček, is being produced under the direction of Bohdan Sláma, with Jenovéfa Boková and Kryštof Hádek playing the leading roles.
"We've actually been working on this project for five years. Personally, I've been writing the script for at least three years," says Jiří Hájíček. He and Bohdan Sláma have known each other for many years, but it was only now that the idea of working together on a joint project came to fruition. They chose Dešťová hůl (The Rain Stick) – a novel that both consider close to their hearts in terms of its theme and atmosphere. "We both like the setting of the suburbs and the countryside. And also strong characters," adds the writer.
These are precisely some of the main reasons why the crew chose this book. A strong female heroine who tries to keep her family together and maintain her connection to the land, the theme of heartlessness, returns to the countryside, and the clash between the city and the countryside. These are all motifs that Jiří Hájíček has been developing for a long time and which are now being translated into the language of film.
The transition from literature to film was not easy. "I wrote the screenplay myself, but it would not have been possible without dramaturgical guidance. Literary text can handle something different than film. With a screenplay, you have to think visually, focus on the main characters," the author explains. The adaptation required changes; some storylines were dropped, others were strengthened, and some characters had more dialogue added. "There were really a lot of versions," admits Jiří Hájíček.
The filming relies heavily on specific locations. České Budějovice is not just a backdrop, but a full-fledged part of the narrative. "At the end of last year, we walked around the city with the film architect and Bohdan Sláma. I'm really glad that many scenes are being shot exactly as I wrote them," says Hájíček. In addition to the city, filming will also take place in surrounding villages and along the Vltava River.
The South Bohemian Philharmonic Orchestra plays a significant role. "We are creating the musical component of the series," explains director Otakar Svoboda. For the orchestra, this is not a musically demanding project, but the situation itself is exceptional. "It's not every day that Czech Television films us doing this."
The musicians are taking the recording in stride, even though they admit to feeling a little nervous. "It's a standard performance, but there is a camera here after all," says South Czech Philharmonic Týml, concertmaster of South Czech Philharmonic .
A little surprise awaited him. "Ms. Jenovéfa Boková will arrive, she will sit in my seat and I will sit next to her. We will have to swap roles somehow. We have never played together, so it will be interesting," he said just before filming.
The philharmonic orchestra already has experience with filming. Years ago, they participated in filming in Ukraine, mainly outdoor scenes. This time, everything takes place in a concert hall. "We didn't do any special preparation for today. We only know that we will be playing two short sections from pieces that we normally play. None of us knows how long the shots will be or how many there will be," says Martin Týml.
In addition to professional actors, extras from Budějovice are also appearing in the shots. "We have a connection to classical music and this environment," agree Marie Čutková and Božena Matějková, who found out about the filming on the internet. They describe the atmosphere as friendly and inspiring. "It's a beautiful environment, you meet nice people," they agree.
"You get the script, find locations, legalize everything, and prepare all the administrative details so that filming can take place," he explains. His team arranges for electricity, parking, facilities for the crew, trailers, makeup rooms, and catering.
In Budějovice, work begins at least a month in advance—applications are submitted to the authorities for the use of public space, traffic signs are arranged, parking restrictions are put in place, and cooperation with the police is organized. "Today, for example, we had to tow away cars; civilian vehicles and license plates must not be in the shot," adds Földes.
The filmmakers have planned a total of 41 shooting days, which is very tight for a series lasting around 75 minutes. Filming will take place not only in the center of Budějovice, but also at the university, in Stromovka, Kostelec, and on a farm in Hroznějovice, which is key to the story.
Location manager Daniel Földes is essential for bringing the film world to the city. "You get the script, look for locations, legalize everything, and prepare the administrative side so that filming can take place," he explains. His team provides electricity, parking, facilities for the crew, trailers, makeup rooms, and catering.
In Budějovice, work begins at least a month in advance—applications are submitted to the authorities for the use of public space, traffic signs are arranged, parking restrictions are put in place, and cooperation with the police is organized. "Today, for example, we had to tow away cars; civilian vehicles and license plates must not be in the shot," explains Daniel Földes.
The filmmakers have planned a total of 41 shooting days. "Which is quite tight. For a series that's about 75 minutes long, it's very tight," admits Daniel Földes. Filming will take place not only in the center of Budějovice, but also on the campus of the University of South Bohemia, in Stromovka, Kostelec, and on a farm in Hroznějovice, which is key to the story. The finished series should be available to viewers in 2027.
