The Firemen's Ball
“A colorful comedy, in which people dance, steal and extinguish the fire.”
The firemen of a provincial Czechoslovakian town throw a ball in honor of the old chief's retirement. There will be music and dancing, a beauty pageant and a raffle. The whole town will be in attendance. However, the proceedings are dogged by difficulty at every step. Workplace injuries, stolen prizes, a shortage of pretty girls... and fire.
Details
Release Date: 12/15/1967
Runtime: 73 minutes
Languages: Czech
Director: Miloš Forman
00Production
Companies: Filmové studio Barrandov, Carlo Ponti Cinematografica
Countries: Czechoslovakia, Italy
Where to watch · US
Cast
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Reviews
deepkino
Miloš Forman's final film in the Czech language is a pure critique of bureaucracy. Set entirely at a banquet honoring a dying, 86-year-old former fire chief, it masterfully depicts the event's descent into fiasco. The film exposes the decay of Czechoslovak society and its so-called socialism, making the audience smile and even laugh, all without ever compromising its sharp comedic edge. It is a rare work that brilliantly critiques authority through humor.
