When a financially strapped former symphony cellist, now making a meager living by playing at funerals, gets pressured into a paper marriage with a friend's single-mother niece, his roving-eye bachelor life is turned upside-down. The beautiful young woman immediately abandons her new husband and her five-year-old son, and the unlikely duo struggles to adjust to their new lives in Prague on the eve of 1989's Velvet Revolution. Winner of the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. Academy Award: Best Foreign Language Film.

Set in Czechoslovakia shortly before the 1989 Velvet Revolution, "Kolya" is the story of an aging cynic named Frantisek, a Czech who weds a Russian woman for her money. Suddenly, the woman flees to West Germany, leaving behind her young son Kolya. The crotchety Frantisek wants nothing to do with the child -- they don't even speak the same language. But as the old man tries to dump Kolya on someone else, the pair slowly develop a lasting, poignant relationship, that enriches both of their lives.

Co-produced by Biograf Jan Sverak Pictures (Prague), in association with Czech Television, Lucerna Film, CCV, AND Cinemart.

Shown at the 1996 Venice, Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals.

Zdenek Sverak, who wrote and stars in this film, is the father of director Jan Sverak.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Letterbox - 1.85
Audio:
TBD
Additional Release Material:
Featurette: "Behind the Scenes of KOLYA"
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access

Distributor Notes: Kolya

Winner of the Academy Award(R) and Golden Globe as Best Foreign Language Film, this irresistible comedy treat was embraced by critics and audiences everywhere! A confirmed bachelor is in for the surprise of his life when a get-rich-quick scheme backfires ... setting off a wild set of circumstances -- and leaving him with a pint-sized new roommate! Now, with a mischievous five-year-old named Kolya suddenly in his care ... life in this once carefree playboy's tiny apartment changes faster than he could ever imagine! Uplifting and endlessly funny, KOLYA is delightful motion picture entertainment you'll want to take home!

Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

Zdenek Sverak: Screenwriter, "The Elementary School"
Andrej Chalimon: 
Libuse Safrankova: Czech Actress
Ondrez Vetchy: 
Stella Zazvorkova: 
Ladislav Smoljak: 
Irena Livanova: 
Lilian Mankina: 
Petra Spalova: 
Nella Boudova: 
Rene Pribyl: 
Miroslav Taborsky: 
Slavka Budinova: 
Jiri Sovak: 
Karel Hermanek: 
Eric Abraham: 

Jan Sverak: Czech filmmaker, "Kolya" & "The Elementary School"

Jan Sverak: Czech filmmaker, "Kolya" & "The Elementary School"

Zdenek Sverak: Screenwriter, "The Elementary School"

Ondrej Soukup: 

Alois Fisarek: Editor

"...A feel-good movie dealing in part with Soviet bloc bureaucracies in 1988..." -- 3 out of 4 stars
"...[Kolya] balances heartwarming sentiment with gentle humor and observations that strike universal chords..."
"...A gem of a Czech film....Wise and worldly..."
"...Lovely....It's a heart melter....Chalimon is a gem..." -- Rating: A-
"...KOLYA is a crowd-pleaser....Chalimon is irresistible....With the further pluses of luminous cinematography and a soaring, emotional score, KOLYA can't miss..."
"...There are some lovely, affecting and warmly amusing moments here..."