Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Comedy drama

The Elementary School (1991): Cast & Plot

The Elementary School (1991) movie poster

The Elementary School is a 1991 comedy drama directed by Jan Svěrák, starring Radoslav Budáč as Tonda Čejka, Zdeněk Svěrák and Václav Jakoubek. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes.

Loading streaming availability…
The Elementary School (1991) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 40m (100 min)
Director
Jan Svěrák
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
Czech
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Elementary School About?

The premise of The Elementary School without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Set in 1945‑46, ten‑year‑old Eda and his friend Tonda live in a small village outside Prague. Their school class is so unruly that the original teacher resigns, and the stern, militant Igor Hnidzo takes over. Hnidzo imposes strict discipline yet remains fair, though he is distracted by a persistent fascination with young women.

The Elementary School Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • voyeurism
  • prostitute
  • hand on breast
  • toilet
  • panties
  • unfaithfulness
  • extramarital affair
  • pregnancy
  • world war two
  • substitute teacher
  • mischief
  • elementary school
+38 more
  • fallen idol
  • central europe
  • central european history
  • european comedy
  • european history
  • prague czechia
  • europe
  • czech history
  • czech comedy
  • prague czech republic
  • period drama
  • friend
  • class
  • teacher
  • year 1946
  • year 1945
  • radio
  • soldering
  • hit on the head
  • war game
  • military equipment
  • allied forces
  • dictator
  • collectivism
  • abandoned truck
  • flute
  • missing finger
  • hand injury
  • reference to adolf hitler
  • faked death of husband
  • faked death of father
  • power plant
  • theater production
  • soccer
  • apple strudel
  • anatomy book
  • storytelling
  • soldier
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

The Elementary School Cast & Characters

Radoslav Budáč leads the cast as Tonda Čejka, with Zdeněk Svěrák as Fan Souček, Eda's dad and Václav Jakoubek as Eda Souček. Directed by Jan Svěrák; 57 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Elementary School

· 53 more
Show all 57 cast members
From the director

More from Jan Svěrák

More films directed by Jan Svěrák: Bethlehem Light, Three Brothers, Kooky and Empties.

Full filmography
Plot

The Elementary School Plot Summary

What happens in The Elementary School from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Shortly after World War II, in 1945–46, in a Prague suburb (the film was shot in Michle), the boy Eda Souček, Václav Jakoubek, attends a boys’ elementary school where the class displays a remarkable lack of discipline. After the class drives their teacher, Maxová, Daniela Kolářová, to a mental breakdown during one of her lessons, the schoolmaster has to implement strict measures. The headmaster Rudolf Hrušínský hires a new teacher, Igor Hnízdo Jan Tříska, a man famed as a war hero and eager to restore order.

Full summary

The whole story of The Elementary School, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

The Elementary School Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Elementary School.

PraguExpats movie night - Elementary school TRAILER
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Elementary School?

9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 9

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered

In which city’s suburb does the film take place?

Details

The Elementary School Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “Los dueños del colegio” and “Ecole Elementaire”.

Also known as
  • Los dueños del colegio
  • Ecole Elementaire
  • La communale
  • Obecná škola
  • Die Volksschule
  • Lições de Infância
  • L'École élémentaire
  • Escuela primaria
  • Начальная школа
  • Általános iskola
  • 青青校树
  • Scuola elementare
+2 more
  • Szkoła podstawowa
  • Älskade magister

Seen The Elementary School?

FAQ

The Elementary School FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The Elementary School, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Elementary School?

The Elementary School runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

When was The Elementary School released?

The Elementary School was released on August 8, 1991.

Who directed The Elementary School?

The Elementary School was directed by Jan Svěrák.

More films by Jan Svěrák

Who is in the cast of The Elementary School?

The Elementary School stars Radoslav Budáč as Tonda Čejka, Zdeněk Svěrák as Fan Souček, Eda's dad and Václav Jakoubek as Eda Souček, among 57 credited actors.

Does The Elementary School have a post-credit scene?

No. The Elementary School has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is The Elementary School in?

The original language of The Elementary School is Czech.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app