Czech Film Crew Endured Brutal Conditions to Create Enduring Fairy Tale “Salt Over Gold“
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – The beloved Czech fairy tale Salt Over Gold (Sul nad zlato), a holiday television staple for over four decades, wasn’t created in a warm studio-but in punishing conditions that saw cast and crew battling -10°C temperatures and near starvation. Despite the physical hardship, director Dušan Hollý and his team crafted a film celebrated for its artistry and enduring message about the value of genuine connection over material wealth.
The film, which premiered in 1981, was famously shot on location in the Tatra Mountains and at Pernštejn castle. Filmmakers documented scenes, such as the trumpeter sequence, at Pernštejn. Hollý intentionally utilized the natural habitat,treating light,snow,and fog as integral performers alongside the actors. Scenes within the Domica and Demänovská ice caves evoke a “mystical effect” with their silence and stark illumination.
Beyond the challenging locations, production was marked by severe deprivation.Actors routinely worked with empty stomachs, enduring the frigid temperatures without adequate sustenance. Despite these conditions, a film emerged that is now considered a symbol of “honest filmmaking.”
The film’s impact extends beyond its visual beauty. Karel svoboda’s score blends tension and melancholy, while Theodor Pištěk’s costumes add depth. The narrative itself explores themes of familial love and the importance of appreciating life’s simple gifts.The snowy Tatras are presented not merely as a scenic backdrop, but as “a symbol of purity, frost and purification,” contrasting with the “warm colors of the underground world” representing a hollow pursuit of wealth. Princess Maruška’s journey is framed as an internal quest for true value.
Today, Salt Over Gold continues to resonate with Czech audiences, reminding viewers that “real things don’t come from comfort, but from effort and humility.” The film’s enduring warmth, even after more than forty years, speaks to the dedication and sacrifice of those who brought it to life.
Resources: csfd.cz, ceskatelevize.cz, fdb.cz
