Vlak u snijegu (film)
Encyclopedia
Vlak u snijegu is a Croatia
n (then SFR Yugoslavia) Children
and Adventure film
directed by Mate Relja. It was released on June 10, 1976.
It is based on the children's novel Vlak u snijegu
written by Mato Lovrak
(1899-1974), then a young schoolteacher inspired by actual events, in 1933, and first titled Djeca Velikog Sela ("The Children of Veliko Selo").
and organize a field trip to Zagreb
.
On their way back, their teacher gets ill and must stay in a hospital.
As the children travel back on their own, the train gets blocked by a snowdrift.
With the help of the children, the railroad workers manage to clear the way.
Most of the children came from the Regional school of Velika Ciglena near Bjelovar
, which was then part of Elementary School "Milan Bakić Baja" in Bjelovar, now 2nd Elementary School Bjelovar.
The scenes in Zagreb
were taken at the Main train station
, the Funicular
, the Dolac Market, the National Theatre, the Zoo
and a printing press.
Some scenes were filmed at the Rovišće
railway station near Bjelovar
.
The scenes in the school were shot in the village of Tomaš
near Bjelovar
, and
the scenes in the snow near Grginac on the railroad between Bjelovar
and Kloštar Podravski
, with snow-blowers from Planica
in Slovenia
to provide artificial snow.
At the end of the shooting, several scenes could be taken in real snow, which had started falling.
on June 10, 1976.
On the same year it was shown at the International Children's Festival of Šibenik
and at the Pula
Film Festival
, where it received the Jelen ("Deer") award -- the first children's film to receive it.
It has been shown in 30 countries.
The name of the novelist, Mato Lovrak, has now been given to the Bjelovar-Kloštar Podravski line.
, is a tale of friendship and solidarity.
The text, written by Drago Britvić, starts this way:
"Kad se mnogo malih složi,
"Ta se snaga stoput množi,
"A to znači da smo jači,
"Kad se skupimo u roj.
"Mala iskra požar skriva,
"Kap po kap i rijeka biva.
"Hajde zato svi u jato,
"Kao vrapci živ, živ, živ."
Ref:
"Kad se male ruke slože, sve se može, sve se može."
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n (then SFR Yugoslavia) Children
Children's film
A children's film is a film aimed for children as its audience. As opposed to a family film, no special effort is made to make the film attractive for other audiences. The film may or may not be about children. In Unshrinking the Kids: Children's Cinema and the Family Film which is a chapter in In...
and Adventure film
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
directed by Mate Relja. It was released on June 10, 1976.
It is based on the children's novel Vlak u snijegu
Vlak u snijegu
Vlak u snijegu , first called Djeca Velikog Sela --"The children of Veliko Selo") is a children's novel written by Croatian novelist Mato Lovrak , then a young schoolteacher inspired by actual events, in 1933....
written by Mato Lovrak
Mato Lovrak
- Biography :Mato Lovrak was born on 8 March 1899 in Veliki Grđevac.Lovrak finished teacher training college in Zagreb and served as teacher in Kutina, Veliki Grđevac, Veliki Zdenci and Zagreb. Lovrak wrote realistic short stories and novels for children....
(1899-1974), then a young schoolteacher inspired by actual events, in 1933, and first titled Djeca Velikog Sela ("The Children of Veliko Selo").
Plot
At the behest of their teacher, fourth grade schoolchildren in a small Croatian village found an old-style Slavic ZadrugaZadruga
A zadruga refers to a type of rural community historically common among South Slavs. The term has been used by the Communist Party of Yugoslavia to designate their attempt at collective farming after World War II....
and organize a field trip to Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
.
On their way back, their teacher gets ill and must stay in a hospital.
As the children travel back on their own, the train gets blocked by a snowdrift.
With the help of the children, the railroad workers manage to clear the way.
Locations
The film was shot from 1973 to 1976.Most of the children came from the Regional school of Velika Ciglena near Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
, which was then part of Elementary School "Milan Bakić Baja" in Bjelovar, now 2nd Elementary School Bjelovar.
The scenes in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
were taken at the Main train station
Zagreb Main Station
Zagreb Main Station is the central railway station in Zagreb and the largest railway station in Croatia. It is located in the center of Zagreb, on King Tomislav Square....
, the Funicular
Zagreb Funicular
The Zagreb Funicular is the funicular in Zagreb operated by ZET, situated in Tomić Street, connecting the Ilica Street with Strossmayerovo šetalište to the north ....
, the Dolac Market, the National Theatre, the Zoo
Zagreb Zoo
Zagreb Zoo is one of three zoo parks in Croatia.It has 275 animal species represented by 2,225 animals and located within the Maksimir Park.The zoo opened its doors on June 27, 1925...
and a printing press.
Some scenes were filmed at the Rovišće
Rovišce
Rovišće is a village and a municipality in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Croatia. There are 5,262 inhabitants, 1,272 in the village itself, of which 97% are Croats.-References:...
railway station near Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
.
The scenes in the school were shot in the village of Tomaš
Tomaš
Tomaš is a village in Croatia....
near Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
, and
the scenes in the snow near Grginac on the railroad between Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
and Kloštar Podravski
Kloštar Podravski
Kloštar Podravski is a municipality in the Koprivnica-Križevci county in Croatia. According to the 2001 census, there are 3,603 inhabitants in the area, with Croats forming an absolute majority....
, with snow-blowers from Planica
Planica
Planica is an alpine valley in northwestern Slovenia, extending south from the border village of Rateče, not far from another well-known ski resort, Kranjska Gora. Further south, the valley extends into the Tamar Valley, a popular hiking destination in Triglav National Park.Planica is famous for...
in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
to provide artificial snow.
At the end of the shooting, several scenes could be taken in real snow, which had started falling.
First appearances
The film was first released in BjelovarBjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
on June 10, 1976.
On the same year it was shown at the International Children's Festival of Šibenik
Šibenik
Šibenik is a historic town in Croatia, with population of 51,553 . It is located in central Dalmatia where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea...
and at the Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
Film Festival
Pula Film Festival
The Pula Film Festival is the oldest Croatian film festival which is held annually in a Roman amphitheater known as the Pula arena since 1954. The festival is usually held in the summer, in July or August....
, where it received the Jelen ("Deer") award -- the first children's film to receive it.
It has been shown in 30 countries.
Trains
A replica of the train from the film has been installed at the Lovrak center in Veliki Grđevac.The name of the novelist, Mato Lovrak, has now been given to the Bjelovar-Kloštar Podravski line.
Theme song
The theme song "Kad se male ruke slože" ("When little hands join together"), written by popular singer Arsen DedićArsen Dedic
Arsen Dedić is a Croatian singer-songwriter who has been prominent in the Croatian as well as former Yugoslav music scene. Dedić writes and performs chansons as well as film music...
, is a tale of friendship and solidarity.
The text, written by Drago Britvić, starts this way:
"Kad se mnogo malih složi,
"Ta se snaga stoput množi,
"A to znači da smo jači,
"Kad se skupimo u roj.
"Mala iskra požar skriva,
"Kap po kap i rijeka biva.
"Hajde zato svi u jato,
"Kao vrapci živ, živ, živ."
Ref:
"Kad se male ruke slože, sve se može, sve se može."