Kekec

Kekec is a Slovenian book fictional child hero character created by Josip Vandot in 1918.

He is widely recognized as a Slovenian superhero and cultural icon. Kekec is a brave boy, a fearless shepherd from the highlands of his home region, the Karavanke and Julian Alps. He is fighting for justice. It was first published in Zvonček publication in 1918.

Appearance

Books

Josip Vandot's trilogy short novels with Kekec as the main character, originally published in Zvonček (Slovenian publication):

Films

The Vandot's novels about Kekec were adapted into three films, all directed by Jože Gale. But only the first and second film were a direct adaptation of the second and third book:

Kekec (1951 film)

Kekec is a 1951 Slovene adventures-youth film directed by Jože Gale, based on novel Kekec nad samotnim breznom by Josip Vandot. Film was produced by Triglav Film and distributed by Viba Film.

It has two sequels, a 1963 film Srečno, Kekec (Good Luck, Kekec) and a 1968 film Kekčeve ukane (Kekec's Tricks). The first international award for a Slovenian feature film: a Golden Lion in the Children's Film category at the Venice Film Festival in 1952.

Plot summary

Based on the popular story "Kekec nad samotnim breznom" ("Kekec Above the Lonely Abyss", 1924) by Josip Vandot, story wasn't changed that much from original, but the songs with music in background were totally new. it's set in an idyllic village of the Slovenian mountains where Kekec (Matija Barl), a young boy is living. High up in the mountains leads his solitary life Bedanec (Franc Presetnik), a man everybody is afraid of because he is wicked. But the brave boy Kekec is not afraid of him. When he gets to know that Bedanec keeps his victims Mojca (Zdenka Logar) and Kosobrin (Frane Milčinski) in his house, he sets out to find them. With his courage and cunning Kekec manages to set them free, and what's more, he forces Bedanec to leave for good.