Maps of Movies

Kolya (1996)

Where Kolya says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A blacklisted Prague cellist, a Russian boy, and the handful of places that can be tied to them

Scenes and places

Playing cello at Prague funerals (1988)

Louka, a cellist blacklisted from the Czech Philharmonic, plays at funerals to scrape together a living. Money is tight and the work is all he can get.

Set in A Prague crematorium — Where Louka plays at funerals to make a living.

The film says Prague crematoriums; the one used for shooting is not confirmed by a source.

Restoring headstone lettering (1988)

Louka tells a grieving visitor he can re-gild a worn inscription for a price. Every crown counts for a man shut out of his orchestra.

Set in A Prague cemetery — Louka offers to restore the faded gold lettering on a headstone.

Scene with the cemetery is not tied to a named place in the film; the cemetery shown is an assumption from one article.

Filmed at Vinohrady Cemetery (Vinohradský hřbitov), Prague (Vinohrady, Prague, Czechia) — A Czech tourism-board article names this cemetery among the Prague locations of the film; it does not say which scene. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Louka's flat in the tower (1988)

Left with a boy who speaks no Czech, Louka has to share a tower flat he built for solitude. Slowly, through cello music and small routines, the two begin to understand each other.

Set in Louka's tower flat, Prague — The tower flat where Louka lives, and where he ends up looking after five-year-old Kolya. Google Maps · Apple Maps

An old palace tower in Malá Strana; Czech Wikipedia names it as a shooting location.

Filmed at Sterneggovský palác (Sternegg Palace), Malá Strana, Prague (Malá Strana, Prague, Czechia) — Czech Wikipedia says the film Kolja was shot in this palace's tower; which interior scenes is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The countryside visit (1988)

Louka takes Kolya to the countryside to stay with relatives and friends while officials ask questions about the boy. The trip shows how far he will go for him.

Set in An unnamed Czech village — The film never names the village.

Unnamed in the film; Úštěk is listed as a shooting location but its link to this scene is not sourced.

The Old Town Square, 1990 (1990)

By 1990 the world around Louka has changed. The film closes on the Old Town Square, with a crowd gathered.

Set in Old Town Square, Prague — Prague's main historic square, where the film's final scene takes place. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Prague's medieval main square.

Filmed at Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí), Prague — Scene not stated Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Úštěk old town — Scene not stated Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Petřín, Prague — Scene not stated Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Louka — A Prague cellist blacklisted from the Czech Philharmonic, living on funeral gigs.
• Kolya — A five-year-old Russian boy left in Louka's care.