The entrance area of U.S.Steel in the film Ohnivé križovatky
The film Ohnivé križovatky was directed by Miroslav Horňák from a screenplay by Pavel Gejdoš Sr. The film was produced in 1974 in Czechoslovakia. The main and minor roles are played by Ján Mistrík, Vladimír Durdík Jr, Hana Prymusová-Lelitová, Vladimír Kostovič, Ľudovít Greššo, Viera Strnisková, Michal Kožuch, Soňa Drnková, Viktor Blaho, Jozef Mihálik, Jozef Bednárik, Gita Strížencová-Mišurová, Alena Janošková, and others. The film also takes place in the current entrance complex of U.S. Steel Košice in the time sequence of 75th minute.
The film Ohnivé križovatky is about the Beluš family, who for generations have lived an honest, completely different life from the one expected of everyone after the land communisation and collectivisation. The very opening scene is marked by the peace and freedom of the horses grazing around the peacefully laying Andrej. All the peace and idyll is shattered by a convoy of heavy machinery arriving with the intention of altering the fertile land for the purpose of building up industry. Suddenly the family is faced with great changes, against which they are too small-minded to make a difference. They hear from many quarters what the new iron-processing venture will bring, and are joined in their praise by those who have experienced the ironworks of Pittsburgh, USA. Young Beluš Andrej (Vladimír Durdík) and Šimon (Ján Mistrík) leave for the war, where they will be educated and work specifically in connection with the ironworks. Each of them experiences their own problems, loves, and sorrows. Some of their problems are added by their friend Jano (Jozef Bednárik), who is an irredeemable alcoholic. Andrej has lost the address of a beautiful girl from Třinec whom he would like to meet again. When the opportunity arises to choose where to continue his education, Andrej chooses Třinec for the whole trio. He hopes to meet the unknown Adela again. Along with him, his brother and the incorrigible Jano leave reluctantly. Their stay in Třinec is complicated by the suddenly uncertain future of the ironworks in Košice and the meaning of their commitment and learning.
A groundbreaking film about the construction of a large East-Slovakian ironworks used footage of the actual construction site. It was also filmed in real ironworks in the Czech city of Třinec and the cameras even went as far as the Belarusian city of Minsk. The stalled ironworks project moves towards a successful revival of construction at the end of the film. It is then the conclusion of the film that consists of scenes of the now newly constructed ironworks, new housing estates, and other buildings. After a brief shot of Orava Castle, the High Tatras appear after the 69th minute of the film, and immediately afterwards a car with a Czechoslovak flag is seen driving down Toryská Street with the blocks of flats of Nešporova Street in the background. The film's opening ceremony of the ironworks takes place on the road of the entrance area right in front of the ironworks overlooking the administration building. The triangular-shaped fountain in front of the administration building is captured in the 78th minute and in the last scene of the film. Andrej is greeting young Simon at this location. Since 2023, the reservoir with the fountain has been transformed into a unique hydro-botanical site enlivening the space. Its technical and botanical design approaches the habitat of the blind arm of the river. The film was also shot near the Urban Tower.
Source
Tomáš Galierik
