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Kekec (film)

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Wikipedia article




'Kekec' is a 1951 Slovene/Yugoslavian adventure-youth film directed by Joe Gale. The film was based on the 'Kekec Above the Lonely Abyss' , a mountain narrative by Josip Vandot, the last of three stories about 'Kekec', which was published in Slovenian youth magazine Zvonek in 1924. The film was produced by 'Triglav Film' and originally distributed by 'Vesna film', currently at 'Viba film'. The story is set in the northwest part of Slovenian mountains, mainly in author's birthplace Kranjska Gora and Julian Alps.

This is the first in the Joe Gale film series about Kekec and has two sequels: 'Good Luck, Kekec (Sreno, Kekec!)' from 1963 and 'Kekec's Tricks (Kekeve ukane)' from 1968.

There were more than a thousand kids on the film's audition chosen by casting director Ernest Adami. One of the supporting actors was Slovenian singer Lado Leskovar.

Plot summary



Based on the popular story ('"Kekec Above the Lonely Abyss", 1924') by Josip Vandot, the story wasn't changed that much from original, but the songs with music in background were totally new. It's set in an idyllic village of the Slovenian mountains where 'Kekec' (Matija Barl), a young boy is living.

High up in the mountains leads his solitary life Bedanec (France Presetnik), a man everybody is afraid of because he is wicked. But the brave boy Kekec is not afraid of him. When he gets to know that Bedanec keeps his victims Mojca (Zdenka Logar) and 'Kosobrin' (Frane Milinski) in his house, he sets out to find them. With his courage and cunning Kekec manages to set them free, and what's more, he forces Bedanec to leave for good.

Success



This is by far the most popular and successful film in Kekec's film trilogy and one of the greatest films in Slovenian and Yugoslavian cinema history. The first Slovenian film winning international award, supposedly it went to festivals and cinemas in over sixty countries all around the world like China, where it hosted in 1957 as part of Yugoslavian film week and Argentina.

Cast



Photo gallery



Shooting locations



Film outtakes



Image:Matija Barl.jpg|Matija Barl (Kekec)

Image:Bedanec in Kekec.jpg|Bedanec and Kekec

Image:Bedanec.jpg|Bedanec

Image:Plakat za film Kekec.jpg|film poster

Image:Razglednica filma Kekec.jpg|film postcard



Award



This was the first ever international award for a Slovenian feature film. At the 13th Venice International Film Festival in 1952, this film won a Golden Lion for the best film in youth category, for kids between ages 11 and 14.

Music



Music and theme song was written by Slovenian composer Marjan Kozina. Lyrics for theme song called was written by Frane Milinski and performed by Toma Tozon together with Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra.

References




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