This film is a cult classic in Milos Forman's native Czech Republic, where the previous Communist regime banned it for its biting social satire (and because Forman emigrated to the US).
The director brings out a number of themes and devices that would become his trademarks on later award-winners such as "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Hair" and "Amadeus". Non-actors and first-timers predominate in the cast, giving the film a gutsy realism. As in Forman's later films, the pace and tone of the film are light and comedic, setting the viewer up for the shock of the tragic denouement. And it is worth noting that the film's cameraman (M. Ondricek) and art director (K. Cerny) later continued to work with Forman in Hollywood, winning Oscars as well.
The Czech subtitle translates roughly as "In which they dance, steal and extinguish" and that about sums it up. A retiring small-town fireman is treated to a farewell ball by the rest of the brigade. The retiree, clearly a holdover from the pre-war democratic society, represents the old values of personal decency and integrity, contrasting pointedly with his younger colleagues. Most of the film is taken up by the ball itself and depiction of the townspeople involved. The characters drawn range from gentle caricature to fierce satire. Highlights include a hastily-arranged beauty contest (each girl uglier than the next), a table full of disappearing door prizes (another one is gone every time you look - and the couple guarding the table are doing some of the stealing, too) and the final presentation of the award to the retiree: the box with the ceremonial fire-ax is empty, but the old man stoically hides his confusion and disappointment.
In these episodes Forman is indirectly criticising not just a decadent society but the Communist regime whose lawlessness and twisted sense of values brought about the decay. The final moments of the film - when an actual fire breaks out in the town - make the point uncompromisingly: people have forgotten what is really important in life.
If you don't care much for European films and aren't interested in life in the former East bloc, this film may seem tedious and the humor hard to understand. But if you want to see one of the classic films of the Czech New Wave and gain an insight into the early development of an Oscar-winning director, this film is definitely worth an hour and a half of your life.
The director brings out a number of themes and devices that would become his trademarks on later award-winners such as "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Hair" and "Amadeus". Non-actors and first-timers predominate in the cast, giving the film a gutsy realism. As in Forman's later films, the pace and tone of the film are light and comedic, setting the viewer up for the shock of the tragic denouement. And it is worth noting that the film's cameraman (M. Ondricek) and art director (K. Cerny) later continued to work with Forman in Hollywood, winning Oscars as well.
The Czech subtitle translates roughly as "In which they dance, steal and extinguish" and that about sums it up. A retiring small-town fireman is treated to a farewell ball by the rest of the brigade. The retiree, clearly a holdover from the pre-war democratic society, represents the old values of personal decency and integrity, contrasting pointedly with his younger colleagues. Most of the film is taken up by the ball itself and depiction of the townspeople involved. The characters drawn range from gentle caricature to fierce satire. Highlights include a hastily-arranged beauty contest (each girl uglier than the next), a table full of disappearing door prizes (another one is gone every time you look - and the couple guarding the table are doing some of the stealing, too) and the final presentation of the award to the retiree: the box with the ceremonial fire-ax is empty, but the old man stoically hides his confusion and disappointment.
In these episodes Forman is indirectly criticising not just a decadent society but the Communist regime whose lawlessness and twisted sense of values brought about the decay. The final moments of the film - when an actual fire breaks out in the town - make the point uncompromisingly: people have forgotten what is really important in life.
If you don't care much for European films and aren't interested in life in the former East bloc, this film may seem tedious and the humor hard to understand. But if you want to see one of the classic films of the Czech New Wave and gain an insight into the early development of an Oscar-winning director, this film is definitely worth an hour and a half of your life.