Rooster Knights

An adventure fantasy for the whole family using elements of fairy tales, legends, and myths

Director: Dan Svátek

Kohoutí rytíři

A small country somewhere in the middle of Europe and an ancient legend about the Rooster Knights, which everyone believes and disbelieves in equal measure. According to the legend, the Rooster Knights are three wild horsemen whose faces are hidden by hats with black feathers, the embodiment of evil that wants to rule every country. The legend comes to life when evil begins to prevail over good. But the myth of the Rooster Knights also says: “Our rule will come when a brave and honourable man is broken.”

The choice of fate falls on teenage orphan Matěj. It is his character that the Rooster Knights must break—take away his pride, honour, and courage.

The king has gone to war to stop the Turkish invader. He has entrusted temporary rule to his cousin, the Regent. However, the Regent craves power. Together with the Duke and the General, he establishes a harsh rule. Standing in their way are the royal officers, led by the brave František, whom the king has entrusted with guarding the little Prince, his only son.

The Regent, the Duke and the General – the three evil noblemen - want to get rid of the king and the crown prince. And chance is on their side... The Turks are defeated, but the king is captured by trickery. The sultan demands a ransom for him, otherwise the king will be executed. The whole kingdom chips in for the ransom – the people hand over even the money intended for the construction of a dam to prevent the floods that have long plagued the entire kingdom. The three evil noblemen dress up as the legendary Rooster Knights and steal all the money.

On an estate not far from the royal castle, the Count of Lípa lives a life of greed. The Count disapproves of the love between his daughter Marianna and the orphan Matěj, and so he drives Matěj out of the estate with his cruelty.

Matěj is taken in by František, who opened a pub, when he and the royal officers were demoted by the ruling trio, The Regent, the Duke and the General. Meanwhile, another terrible flood is devastating the kingdom. František, his companions and Matěj are trying to help wherever they can. However, Matěj's presence threatens František. Matěj therefore accepts the offer of an unknown knight and leaves with him.

Soon, to his horror, he discovers that he has entered the service of the Rooster Knights, but he can no longer take back his word. Matěj has no idea that the year he is to spend with the Rooster Knights will be a test of his character. Will the Rooster Knights succeed in breaking Matěj?

Despite temptation and hesitation, Matěj remains strong and unbroken—he does not raise his hand against animals, he does not succumb to wealth, he does not betray his friend, and he is not blinded by revenge or desire for his one true love.

The question that hangs over the entire story is: what face do the Rooster Knights have? Do they have a face at all? And are we afraid to look evil in the face? Because that is the only way we can fight it.

The returning King reveals the intrigues of the The Regent, the Duke and the General and expels them from the country.

The Rooster Knights have lost and take off their hats – evil has taken the face of the Regent, the Duke, and the General. The Rooster Knights have lost and are disappearing, however, before that, they must fulfil one wish of the pure man they could not break – and Matěj wishes for the new dam to be built immediately. The kingdom will not be exposed to floods anymore and Matěj and Marianna, can live happily ever after.

The fantasy adventure family film tells a story of courage, love, friendship, saving one small kingdom from greed and destruction, highlighting cooperation across generations and social roles, and merging fairy-tale symbolism with urgent contemporary issues like environmental catastrophes – represented here by a flood endangering the whole country.

Financed by European union - Next Generation EU, reg. no. 0463000036, Kohoutí rytíři, development