It cost only 4.5 million Czechoslovak crowns at a time when films were usually shot for twice that. It was created in the streets of Prague during August 1987, a year later, 35 years ago, it premiered. And it became a hit that broke girls’ hearts and records in cinema attendance! A friend in the rain.
Director Jaroslav Soukup (76) has always been able to do it – take a few people, a modest budget and make a hit! Duo Sagvan Tofi (58) and Lukáš Vaculík (61) put it together for the first time for the film Vítr v kapse (1982) and found that it worked. The two boys sat together like black and white, coffee and cream, yin and yang. The audience loved them, especially the fair sex. And so he served them the story of the waiter Michal (Tofi) and the taxi driver Tomáš (Vaculík).
Together, the two faithfully side by side deal with Michal’s assault and robbery of income from work, repayment of a usurious loan, and settlement of accounts with the cunning Kadlec (Karel Augusta, †62) and his son-in-law, the trafficker Bureš (Andrej Hryc†71). “It was the very first genre of action film for young people that was shot in our country. The scenario was approved by the Ministry of the Interior, where they had reservations about it. That they spoil the youth,” Soukup recalled. Another fact was confirmed that the movie is fun. Even to this day, when we still like to write down: “Give, take!”
Alena Vránová played almost a triple role, in addition to the variety artist, she also played the fake producer and widow Syřišťová. | Bontonfilm
In unexpected roles
A friend in the rain also showed stars in unexpected roles. The excellent Alena Vránová could demonstrate her talent for comedy (91) as variety artist Vlasta. “Well gentlemen, it’s in the bag. Only seventy thousand would be enough for you!” reads one of her messages. The participation of DAMU professor Ivan Vyskočil (†94) in the role of historian Syřiště was a surprise. “He fought her tooth and nail. He didn’t want to go into commerce, we had a hard time convincing him,” commented Soukup. The mini-role of an eccentric gay man in a taxi was cut by screenwriter and lyricist Eduard Pergner (†65). Kateřina Brožová appeared in front of the camera as a saleswoman for only the second time in her career (55).
It is said that stormtrooper Andrej Hryc pissed off the director during filming, but he handled the role perfectly. | Bontonfilm
Do you know that… • …in 1992, the sequel The Brooklyn Story premiered, did Soukup want to shoot a third part as well? When Karel Augusta died, the plans took over. It wouldn’t be the same without Kadlec.
