Signum Laudis is a 1980 Czechoslovak war drama film directed by Martin Hollý. It is set during World War I.
Plot The film is set on the Eastern Front of World War I. Corporal Hoferik becomes a commander of his unit after the commanding officers are killed. He leads his men to an attack that leads to high casualties. Hoferik and his men are then pulled out to the rear. Hoferik's unit is part of Ziegler's regiment. The regiment is visited by General Berger and his staff. Berger and his staff doesn't know much about life on the front. Berger awards Hoferik the Signum Laudis. Hoferik is happy and wants to celebrate with his men but they hate him for his eagerness and fanaticism. They decline. Next day the estate where Hoferik's unit reside surrounded by enemies. Berger orders the regiment to attack but it is decimated. Hoferik's unit and Berger's staff escapes the estate but old General Gross is killed in a fight with enemy. Soldiers are in a hopeless situation and officers want to surrender. Hoferik wants to fight to the last men which leads other officers to hold a court during which is Hoferik accused of Gross' murder and sentenced to death. Hoferik is executed. Officers then order the remaining soldiers to strike the enemy and they (the soldiers) are all killed. Officers meanwhile surrender to enemy.
Cast Vlado Müller as Corporal Adalbert Hoferik Josef Bláha as Captain Bruno König Ilja Prachař as General Friedrich Berger Radovan Lukavský as General Friedrich Gross Jiří Kodet as First Lieutenant Kostolány Oldřich Velen as Colonel Reznitzek Ladislav Frej as Lieutenant Colonel Rudolf Ziegler Pavel Zedníček as Feldwebel J. A. Wimmer Miroslav Zounar as Lieutenant Hans von Pallawski Jan Skopeček as Reisch known as Father
Reception Accolades Date of ceremony Event Award Recipient(s) Result 1980 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Special Jury Award 1981 Czech and Slovak Film Festival Kladno Award for music Zdeněk Liška 1982 Klement Gottwald State Awards State Award Film and Theatre Survey The most popular actor Vlado Müller 1990 Finále Plzeň Film Festival Kingfisher ex aequo
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