Juonikuvaukset(1)

In a village under the Giant Mountains, a firemens' ball is in preparation. The former chairman of the firemen, Vrána, is to be rewarded by a golden axe for fifty years of service in the firemens' corps. The men decorate the dancing hall: there is a rich tombola prepared on two tables in the corner, guarded by Josef, one of the members of the committee. When the ball begins, the rest of the committee members try to find girls - candidates for the ball's beauty queen competition. But they are unable to agree upon the winner and their decision-making is moreover constantly influenced by their family members. There are many unpleasant situations during the selection of girls behind the closed door of the office. The whole action results in a fiasco - the girls are shy and refuse to come up to the stage. Josef, too, faces some problems. Every time he leaves the tombola to have a beer, something disappears from the tables. Later, he finds out that the stolen collared pork resides hidden in his wife's bag. In the midst of the celebrations, a fire bursts out in the village. Although the firemen do their best, the wooden cottage of old man Havelka burns to the ground. The villagers decide to donate the tombola takings to him. Upon their return to the dance hall, however, they find the tables with the tombola all empty. The organizers ask the people present to return everything, but the only one to be found by the tables is the innocent Josef who wanted to correct his wife's wrongdoings. The ball is over, people walk away. There is only Vrána sitting in the empty hall, waiting for his reward. But that, unfortunately, was stolen, too. (jakelijan virallinen teksti)

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Arvostelut (8)

Isherwood 

kaikki käyttäjän arvostelut

englanti Miloš Forman applied his excellent observational talent through a reflective portrayal of the contemporary political atmosphere. The final fire brigade meeting on the topic of "those who stole are doing well" is the best evidence of that. An unrestrained satirical view of typical Czech pettiness that blindly aspires to high goals – the beauty pageant, and then skillfully combined with folk humor – the quarrel of old spouses over who will watch the tombola. At first glance, it may seem naively simple, but at its core, it is profoundly intelligent and incredibly truthful to the extent that the safe was absolutely "justified" in its time. ()

Marigold 

kaikki käyttäjän arvostelut

englanti A portrait of Czech (at its core apparently international) smallness, fitted on a small canvas of a Firemen's ball. Excellent acting performances, convincing atmosphere, humor that makes you laugh, but then you get surprised by the strange chill... The final dialogue about those who steal and those who do not steal should be shown as the equivalent of the national anthem of the Czech Republic. Forman used the same means as in A Blonde in Love, Ondříček’s excellent documentary camera, a brass band background, and dialogues as if randomly watched in medias res. The gags are even sharper and more refined than in the previous film, some of which make one laugh, whilst others make your smile freeze. As Vladislav Vančura used to say: humor is not laughing, but rather knowing better. And after watching The Firemen's Ball, the viewer truly knows better and it is not joyful at all. Unfortunately, the film does not lose its topicality. On the contrary. ()

Mainos

Lima 

kaikki käyttäjän arvostelut

englanti A brilliant comedy that is more chilling than funny. Under the commies, every critical film was said to hold up a mirror, and that is very accurate for this film. The fire brigades protested, but it's not about them at all, this film has a much deeper message. The scene with the old man at his burning house is one of the saddest I've ever seen. ()

Zíza 

kaikki käyttäjän arvostelut

englanti It's actually a sad movie about how stupid and hypocritical people are. I have to say, except for a few scenes, I wasn't amused, more like I wanted to cry when I saw it. The fact that there are non-actors, the dialogue is life-like, and the director is Milos Forman did nothing for me. If you hate people for a while after watching it, I hope you won't be surprised. ()

gudaulin 

kaikki käyttäjän arvostelut

englanti The best film by Miloš Forman that he made before leaving for overseas. At the same time, a sophisticated and uncomfortably effective sarcastic allegory on real communism in the Czech environment. Lots of venomous lines, humorous situations, and great acting, as well as clever filmmaking that helped Forman succeed in the world. Move the bed closer to the fire so that he warms up. Despite the undisputed cruelty of many scenes, I really like this film. The foreign producer was desperate at the time of selecting the girls for the beauty queen competition, but evidently didn't understand that the director was after something completely different. Overall impression: 95%. ()

Kuvagalleria (21)