"The movie is just plain funny. And as a parable it is timeless, with relevance at many times in many lands." - Roger Ebert
Directed by Miloš Forman
Forman’s absurdist comedy depicts social breakdown at a ball organized for a local fire department during which raffle prizes are looted, an impromptu beauty contest becomes a farce, and a fire breaks out, challenging inebriated firemen to do their job. Based on an actual anecdote, this allegory of official corruption and ineptitude was Oscar-nominated and provided a springboard to Forman’s American career.
Filmové studio Barrandov. Producer: Rudolf Hájek. Screenwriter: Miloš Forman, Jaroslav Papoušek, Ivan Passer, Václav Sasek. Cinematographer: Miroslav Ondrícek. Editor: Miroslav Hájek. Cast: Vaclav Stöckel, Josef Švet, Jan Vostrcil, Josef Sebánek, Milada Jezková.
35mm, color, 73 min.
