Directed by:
Jaromil JirešCinematography:
Jan ČuříkComposer:
Zdeněk PololáníkCast:
Josef Somr, Jana Dítětová, Luděk Munzar, Jaroslava Obermaierová, Milan Švrčina, Miloš Rejchrt, Evald Schorm, Věra Křesadlová, Jaromír Hanzlík, Michal Pavlata (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Ludvík Jahn returns to his native city after many years to meet the radio reporter Helena Zemánková, who plans to broadcast a story on a local traditional folk festival, Ludvík wants to have his revenge. Helena has no idea that Ludvík's interest in the meeting is not caused by her withering appeal but her husband's photograph which Ludvík spotted in her cigarette case. Fifteen years ago, Pavel Zemánek was Ludvík's faculty colleague, chairman of the faculty organization of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia and also his best friend. At that time, Ludvík's colleague and love Markéta sent him from her training a letter full of swollen optimism and phrases. He sent her a reply on a postcard and closed his ironical message with the greeting "Long Live Trotsky!" His practical jokes, however, were not appreciated and, thanks to Pavel, Ludvík was expelled both from the party and the school and sent to military service with the so-called "Black Barons," Auxiliary Technical Battalions, then to military prison and finally for three year's work in the mines. Ludvík wants to have his revenge on the hated Pavel by seducing his wife. In a lent flat, Ludvík not too affectionately takes Helena into his power. When he learns that the Zemáneks marriage has been solely formal for many years already, he rejects the woman's infatuated chattering with contempt. Helena tries to commit suicide - which is as ridiculous and misshapen as Ludvík's desired revenge... (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Josef Somr
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Hamlet (1986) (theatrical recording)
Naši furianti (1983) (theatrical recording)
Tažní ptáci (1983) (TV movie)
Jana Dítětová
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Give the Devil His Due (1984)
How to Get Dad Into Reform School (1978) (TV movie)
How to Pull Out a Whale's Tooth (1977) (TV movie)
Luděk Munzar
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Naši furianti (1983) (theatrical recording)
Give the Devil His Due (1984) - narrator
Ubohý pan Kufalt (1981) (TV movie)
Jaroslava Obermaierová
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
Witchhammer (1969)
Lucerna (1967) (TV movie)
Milan Švrčina
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Joke (1968)
Miloš Rejchrt
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Joke (1968)
Evald Schorm
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
A Report on the Party and Guests (1966)
The Joke (1968)
Krajina s nábytkem (1986)
Věra Křesadlová
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
Larks on a String (1969)
Intimate Lighting (1965)
The Joke (1968)
Jaromír Hanzlík
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Cyrano z Bergeracu (1986) (theatrical recording)
Ikaros' Fall (1977) (TV movie)
Tažní ptáci (1983) (TV movie)
Michal Pavlata
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Operace Silver A (2007) (TV movie)
Deskový statek (2008) (theatrical recording)
Lenin, Lord and Mother (1990)
Jiří Sýkora
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Sňatky z rozumu (1968) (series)
Happy End (1967)
The End of a Priest (1968)
Michal Knapčík
Best movies:
The Joke (1968)
Jiří Cimický
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Assassination (1964)
The Joke (1968)
Radostný život posmrtný (1990) (TV movie)
Emil Haluška
Best movies:
The Joke (1968)
Josef Žluťák Hrubý
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
The Joke (1968)
Doctor Zhivago (2002) (TV movie)
Snake Poison (1981)
Jiří Štíbr
Best movies:
The Joke (1968)
Awakening (1959)
The Night Guest (1961)
Stanislav Litera
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Lemonade Joe (1964)
Happy End (1967)
The Girl on the Broomstick (1971)
Václav Svěrák
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
The Joke (1968)
Kde řeky mají slunce (1961)
Miss Golem (1972)
Jan Svoboda
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
A Report on the Party and Guests (1966)
The Joke (1968)
Prodloužený čas (1984)
Dušan Trančík
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Garden (1995)
The Joke (1968)
Broken Promise (2009)