Still from The Joke — The Joke (1969) — Jaromil JirešPhotographed by Jan Čuřík

Jaromil Jireš

The Joke

Name: The Joke
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Eclipse Series
Released: 1969
Duration: 77 min

Žert

Czechoslovakia / Czech / 1969 / 1h 17m

Drama Comedy Eclipse Series

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Synopsis

Jaromil Jire≈°'s brilliant adaptation of Milan Kundera's novel tells the fragmentary tale of a man expelled from the Communist Party because of a political joke. After "rehabilitation" in the mines and a stint in prison, he hatches a revenge plot against the former friend who betrayed him. Made near the end of the Czech New Wave, The Joke is acknowledged as one of its greatest works.

Included in
Czechoslovak New Wave
Position 25

Part of Box Set

Eclipse Series 32: Pearls of the Czech New Wave

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Credits

Crew

DirectorJaromil Jireš

WriterJaromil Jireš, Milan Kundera

CinematographerJan Čuřík

ComposerZdeněk Pololáník

EditorJosef Valušiak

Cast

Josef Somras Ludvik Jahn

Jana Dítětováas Helena Zemánková

Luděk Munzaras Pavel Zemánek

Jaroslava Obermaierováas Marketa

Evald Schormas Kostka

Milan Svrčinaas Jaroslav

Miloš Rejchrtas Alexej

Věra Křesadlováas Věra

Jaromír Hanzlíkas Lieutenant

Michal Pavlataas Jindra

Double Feature

Streaming now, and why it pairs with this film

The Hall of Lost Footsteps1960

Paired by the Criterion Channel, and both directed by Jaromil Jireš

Or

Uncle1959Paired by the Criterion Channel, and both directed by Jaromil Jireš
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders1970Paired by the Criterion Channel, and both directed by Jaromil Jireš