Secret Delivery

Story of the great heroism of the little heroes

Director: Ján Sebechlebský

Tichá pošta

Czech Republic / Slovakia / Serbia 2025

The end of February 1945, the border between the German Reich and the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, the village of Smrčí. The classes at the local Czech school just finished and Jíra (11) immediately seizes the opportunity. Slipping past his sister Anka (14), he makes his way to the border to meet up with his German friend Jochen (11). Before the war, the two of them had sat next to each other in class; now, despite their parents prohibiting it, they meet to have fun on the slopes of the Giant Mountains, claimed by the Reich.

Later, as they are skiing, they are almost discovered by the Gebirgsjäger, a mountain unit of the German army commanded by Sturmbannführer Gollwitz, trying to round up partisans and German deserters. Jíra’s ski slides away from him. The boys look for it – and, in the thick brushwood, find Pierre (25), a heavily wounded, dark-skinned French pilot.

The boys’ first shocked reaction is to run away. Later, however, they return, adamant to help Pierre out. They try transporting him on a litter made of branches but can’t make it on their own. Jochen gets his father. The three of them load Pierre onto a cart, trick the German patrol on the border, and take the wounded French pilot to the cottage of Jíra’s parents, the Soukup family, in Smrčí.
The local doctor treats Pierre in secret. He thinks the pilot won’t survive unless he makes it to a nearby hospital as soon as possible. There’s a resistance group there, and they will be able to take care of him. The hospital, however, is many kilometres away. Jíra’s sister Anka overhears her parents saying it might be better if Pierre died, because his presence is endangering the entire village.

Anka comes up with a daring plan, enlisting the help of her classmates and children from the surrounding villages. They will send Pierre like a secret delivery – a ‘parcel’ passed from village to village, camouflaged as a stack of hay on a cart.

Anka confides in her parents, but they strictly forbid her to go ahead with her plan. The girl, therefore, secretly kidnaps Pierre, aided by Jíra, Jochen and the little Vašek (8). The plan covers even the slightest detail. The camouflaged cart is hardly noticeable, the children in the surrounding villages reliable and determined – from Lenka and Tomáš to Barka and Jarka and the extremely brave Jožka Vičan. To seem as inconspicuous as possible, the older children are aided by the ‘little ones,’ such as Béda, whose birthday is just around the corner, or Toník, an ‘Indian on a warpath.’ On their adventure-filled journey, the children must avoid many dangers – German patrols, the known informant Tománek, and, especially, the watchful gaze of Sturmbannführer Gollwitz, always one step behind them.

Although a few grown-ups help the children along the way, it is the little heroes who remain the main actors in the complicated and dangerous rescue mission. At the same time, their quest isn’t entirely free of humour.

The language barrier between Pierre and the children is ever-present, and then, even amidst the horrors of war, children will always be children. Even in the Protectorate, all they often want is a proper snowball fight or a simple birthday party.

The Secret Delivery is a story of children’s bravery, fellowship, and the willingness to help. A story of the great heroism of little heroes.

Secret Delivery is, in the best sense of the word, unfussy and straightforward, combining a thrilling, gripping adventure with a strong ethical overtone. There are unfortunately very few good family films made in our country, perhaps because combining these key ingredients of the genre together is harder than it seems. But when it succeeds, it is a joy to watch.

Vojtech Rynda, Reflex magazine

Why tell another story from the end of the WWII?

“Why tell another story from the end of the WWII? Because it's a children's story about empathy, rebellion, joy, courage and hope at a time when the chance of survival sometimes depends only on luck. It's one of those stories where children unite against the adult world in order to save someone. I think that such stories are needed especially today, when our kids are unexpectedly confronted with the proximity and impact of war on a daily basis.“ Ján Sebechlebský, Director

When my dad, the writer Jiří Stránský, passed away in 2019, Ján Sebechlebský and I sat down a week after my dad's funeral, and started writing the script for Secret Delivery. Dad and Ján had already been working on it before his death, so our conscience commanded us, and especially the desire to be close to dad at all times, which piled up to the brim when writing the script based on his book We heard him whispering to us. Dad loved this story. This thrilling adventure of those brave boys and girls, in cold winter, with the Nazis behind their backs. My father´s  life credo was to help the weaker, honor the truth and fight for justice. That's my dad's imprint, so strongly present in the Secret Delivery." Klára Formanová, Co-author of the script

World sales: Coccinelle Film Sales

Financed by European union - Next Generation EU, reg. no. 0463000007, Tichá pošta, sound postproduction