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The Joke

Original title: Zert
  • 19691969
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
The Joke (1969)
  • Drama
In the 1950's, Ludvik Jahn was expelled from the Communist Party and the University by his fellow students, because of a politically incorrect note he sent to his girlfriend. Fifteen years l... Read allIn the 1950's, Ludvik Jahn was expelled from the Communist Party and the University by his fellow students, because of a politically incorrect note he sent to his girlfriend. Fifteen years later, he tries to get his revenge by seducing Helena, the wife of one of his accusers.In the 1950's, Ludvik Jahn was expelled from the Communist Party and the University by his fellow students, because of a politically incorrect note he sent to his girlfriend. Fifteen years later, he tries to get his revenge by seducing Helena, the wife of one of his accusers.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jaromil Jires
  • Writers
    • Zdenek Bláha(dramaturge)
    • Jaromil Jires(screenplay)
    • Milan Kundera(novel "Zert")
  • Stars
    • Josef Somr
    • Jana Dítetová
    • Ludek Munzar
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jaromil Jires
  • Writers
    • Zdenek Bláha(dramaturge)
    • Jaromil Jires(screenplay)
    • Milan Kundera(novel "Zert")
  • Stars
    • Josef Somr
    • Jana Dítetová
    • Ludek Munzar
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos6

    The Joke (1969)
    The Joke (1969)
    The Joke (1969)
    The Joke (1969)
    Capricious Summer (1968)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Josef Somr
    Josef Somr
    • Ludvik Jahn
    Jana Dítetová
    Jana Dítetová
    • Helena Zemánková
    Ludek Munzar
    Ludek Munzar
    • Pavel Zemánek
    Evald Schorm
    Evald Schorm
    • Kostka
    Vera Kresadlová
    Vera Kresadlová
    • Brozová
    Milan Svrcina
    • Jaroslav
    • (as Milan Svrciva)
    Milos Rejchrt
    • Alexej
    Jaromír Hanzlík
    Jaromír Hanzlík
    • Lieutenant
    Jirí Sýkora
    • Cenek
    Michal Knapcik
    • Soldier
    Jana Andresíková
    Jana Andresíková
      Jaroslav Blazek
      Vladimír Cech
        Jirí Cimický
        • Soldier
        Bohuslav Cáp
        Bohuslav Cáp
          Vladimír Drha
          Vladimír Drha
          • Chief
          Milan Friedl
            Emil Haluska
            • Soldier
            • Director
              • Jaromil Jires
            • Writers
              • Zdenek Bláha(dramaturge)
              • Jaromil Jires(screenplay)
              • Milan Kundera(novel "Zert") (screenplay)
            • All cast & crew
            • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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            ...a pozdravuji vlastovky
            6.7
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            Closely Watched Trains
            7.6
            Closely Watched Trains

            Storyline

            Edit

            Did you know

            Edit
            • Trivia
              Lenka Termerová's debut.
            • Connections
              Edited into CzechMate: In Search of Jirí Menzel (2018)

            User reviews6

            Review
            Top review
            9/10
            A great adaptation of Kundera's great book
            A movie adaptation that succeeds by remaining true to the novel's theme while telling the story with an exciting new structure and style. As opposed to the novel's use of more conventional flashback passages, in the film the past seems to attack Ludvik Jahn -- played brilliantly by Josef Somr of CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS -- from all sides, as the past echoes inescapably through the world of the present. It also doesn't hurt, I suppose, that Kundera himself co-wrote the screenplay.
            helpful•19
            3
            • arthurpewty
            • Aug 3, 2003

            Details

            Edit
            • Release date
              • February 28, 1969 (Czechoslovakia)
            • Country of origin
              • Czechoslovakia
            • Language
              • Czech
            • Also known as
              • Der Scherz
            • Production company
              • Filmové studio Barrandov
            • See more company credits at IMDbPro

            Technical specs

            Edit
            • Runtime
              1 hour 20 minutes
            • Color
              • Black and White
            • Sound mix
              • Mono
            • Aspect ratio
              • 1.37 : 1

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