The Joke

tragicomedy

Typology

feature

Czech title

Žert

Runtime

Country

Czechoslovakia

Copyright

1968

Production year

1968

Premiere

28.02.1969

Language version

Czech

Director

Jaromil Jireš

Screenplay

Milan Kundera, Jaromil Jireš

Summary

Author Milan Kundera played a role in the Czechoslovak New Wave via several big screen adaptations of his own works. One example is Já truchlivý Bůh (I, the Distressing God, 1969), a film inspired by a short story from his Směšné lásky (Laughable Loves) collection. Another adaptation is Žert (The Joke, 1968), which is drawn from Kundera’s first novel of the same name, first published in 1967. Two years later, he and co-writer/director Jaromil Jireš worked on the film version of this tragicomedy. One of the most famous Czechoslovak films of the 1960s, The Joke concerns itself with the issue of Stalinist repression. Ludvík Jahn, the hero of the story, falls victim to just such repression in this highly-regarded film starring Josef Somr. As a young man, Jahn sends a postcard to a fellow student with some lines mocking the authorities. This causes him to be expelled from both school and The Party. He ends up arrested, and made to endure prison, a forced labour camp (where he spends three years digging in the mines) and military service. After his release, Ludvík returns to his native hometown in Moravia in order to have his revenge on former schoolmate and friend Zemánek (Luděk Munzar) – the man responsible for ruining his life. He decides to seduce Zemánek’s wife, radio reporter Helena (Jana Dítětová), but Ludvík’s plan fails to yield the sought-after retribution. For the new deeds do little to diminish the memories of the past. As the townsfolk celebrate a folklore festival, Ludvík remains alone as an embittered victim afflicted with an incurable sense of rage and resentment. Director Jireš and cinematographer Jan Čuřík create a powerful tale in which the viewer is brought back in time to a world of Moravian folk costumes and music. The flashback sequences to Somr’s pre-prison days are integrated into the story via random associations in which Ludvík is inspired to look back at his past. The film, which was locked away in the censors’ vault at the start of the “normalisation” era, gradually found favour with international audiences at festivals in London, New York, Delhi and other locations worldwide. A screening of Czech and Slovak films at an awards festival in Sorrento, Italy, saw Žert win the Silver Siren Award, while the motion picture picked up the OCIC Award for best adaptation at the 1969 San Sebastian International Film Festival.

Synopsis

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.

Film online

Photos

vrchní

Vincenc Moštěk

zpívající starý muž

Director

Jaromil Jireš

Second Unit Director

Vladimír Drha

Assistant Director

Eliška Štíbrová, Ivana Skabranská, Dagmar Švejdová

Based on

Milan Kundera (Žert – román)

Unit Production Manager

Antonín Suchánek

Consultant

pplk. František Říčka

Cooperation

Jana Císařová, Marie Tillerová, Milada Malínská, Leopold Zeman

Music

Music Composed by

Zdeněk Pololáník

Music Performed by

FISYO, Slovácká muzika Hradišťan

Songs

Za hory horečky zašly ně ovečky, Ej, svítilo slunéčko na naší zahrádku, Kalinka, Kupředu jít, radostně žít, Stavíme nový svět, Na těch panských lukách, S pánem bohem, kamarádko, Ptala se Zuzana Kuby, Šel jsem za noci alejí, Kupředu, zpátky ni krok, Dobre je /Verbuňk/, Na tom pražském mostě

Songwriter

lidová píseň (Za hory horečky zašly ně ovečky), lidová píseň (Ej, svítilo slunéčko na naší zahrádku), lidová ruská píseň (Kalinka), Jiří Pauer (Stavíme nový svět), lidová píseň (Na těch panských lukách), lidová píseň (S pánem bohem, kamarádko), lidová píseň (Ptala se Zuzana Kuby), lidová píseň (Šel jsem za noci alejí), Jan Seidel (Kupředu, zpátky ni krok), Otakar Horký (Dobre je /Verbuňk/), lidová píseň (Na tom pražském mostě)

Writer of Lyrics

lidová píseň (Za hory horečky zašly ně ovečky), lidová píseň (Ej, svítilo slunéčko na naší zahrádku), lidová ruská píseň (Kalinka), Jiří Pauer (Stavíme nový svět), lidová píseň (Na těch panských lukách), lidová píseň (S pánem bohem, kamarádko), lidová píseň (Ptala se Zuzana Kuby), lidová píseň (Šel jsem za noci alejí), Bedřich Bobek (Kupředu, zpátky ni krok), Anežka Gorlová (Dobre je /Verbuňk/)

Singer

Jana Dítětová (Za hory horečky zašly ně ovečky), Jana Dítětová (Ej, svítilo slunéčko na naší zahrádku), Alexandrovci (Kalinka), mužský sbor (Kupředu jít, radostně žít), sbor (Stavíme nový svět), Slovácká muzika Hradišťan (Na těch panských lukách), ženský sbor (S pánem bohem, kamarádko), sbor (Ptala se Zuzana Kuby), Vincenc Moštěk (Šel jsem za noci alejí), sbor (Kupředu, zpátky ni krok), sbor (Dobre je /Verbuňk/)

Production info

Original Title

Žert

English Title

The Joke

Copyright

1968

Production Year

1968

Premiere

28.02.1969

Production

Filmové studio Barrandov

Copyright Holders

Státní fond kinematografie

Distribution

Ústřední půjčovna filmů

Creative Group

Šmída – Fikar, Ladislav Fikar, Bohumil Šmída

Sales

Národní filmový archiv, Obchodní oddělení

Technical info

Format

Betacam, DVD

Versions

Czech

Awards

Vítěz

Festival: 7. filmový festival mladých Trutnov

1969
Trutnov / Czechoslovakia

Vítěz

Event: Ceny Trilobit 1968

1969
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jaromil Jireš

Vítěz

Exhibition: Přehlídka českých a slovenských filmů 69 Sorrento

1969
Sorrento / Italy
Jaromil Jireš

Vítěz

Festival: 17. mezinárodní filmový festival San Sebastián

1969
San Sebastián / Spain
Jaromil Jireš

The Joke

Typology

Czech title

Runtime

Country

Copyright

Production year

Premiere

Language version

Director

Screenplay

Summary

Synopsis

Film online

Photos

Cast

Dubbing

Crew and creators

Director

Second Unit Director

Assistant Director

Based on

Screenplay

Shooting Script

Script Editor

Camera

Second Unit Photography

Camera Operator

Production Designer

Set Designer

Costume Designer

Costumes

Make-Up Artist

Film Editor

Sound Designer

Production Manager

Unit Production Manager

Unit Production Manager

Consultant

Cooperation

Music

Music Composed by

Music Performed by

Songs

Songwriter

Writer of Lyrics

Singer

Production info

Original Title

English Title

Copyright

Production Year

Premiere

Production

Copyright Holders

Distribution

Creative Group

Sales

Technical info

Format

Versions

Awards

Vítěz

Vítěz

Vítěz

Vítěz

Library