Closely watched trains is a slender but tightly and skillfully written novella. Oscarwinning comedydrama from czech new wave director and actor jiri menzel larks on a string, i served the king of england. Closely watched trains is a quiet, charming, very, closely watched trains is a quiet, charming, very, human film. Postriziny certainly has one, but as for closely watched trains well, thats a matter of opinion. Closely watched trains closely observed trains 1967 because thats what the fuhrer wants. Its economy of expression, darkly spiced with humor, is in sharp contrast to the seriousness of its intent an anthem for doomed youth set in german occupied czechoslovakia in 1945. Closely observed trains or closely watched trains as its often called as well is one of the best known and wellloved films to come out of the czechoslovak new wave of the 60s.
Jiri menzels closely observed trains on bluray and dvd. Ostre sledovane vlaky, i i, closely observed trains. Its one of only two czech films to ever win the best foreign language film at the oscars, the other was the shop on main. Closely observed trains members choice screening date tbc. It comes from czechoslovakia and isnt pushy like those big american movies. A remarkable film, startling in its simplicity, which holds up quite well today and will undoubtedly continue to do so it has a unique take on the vagaries. Mar 26, 2017 or further back, to train pulling into a station auguste and louis lumiere, 1895. Rent closely watched trains 1966 starring vaclav neckar and josef somr on dvd and bluray. The result of closely observed trains was a film deemed worthy of the academy award for best foreign language film and put the czechoslovakian new wave on the map of world cinema for the first time.
He undergoes several philosophical changes as he becomes attracted to. Jiri menzels closely watched trains, his debut film which he made at the age of 28 and which one the academy award for foreign language film that year, is at once one of the simplest examples of a comingofage film and one of the most layered ones. Rent closely watched trains 1966 on dvd and bluray. Closely watched trains closely observed trains 1967. When you add world war ii and nazi occupation into the mix, adolescent difficulties quantify rapidly thats certainly the case in this award winning and well loved 1966 film from. In this film, vaclav neckar plays a czech railroad worker during the nazi occupation. This forgiving bent is on ample display in closely watched trains one of the more moving debut features of the 1960s. Closely watched trains trailer turner classic movies. The film has been described as deadly serious and comic, which is an apt description for hrabals fiction generally. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study.
A real charmer from the heyday of the czech new wave, set during the german occupation but totally immersed in the pubescent problems of a youth. For those not in new york, stay tuned for news of the film s online premiere. Closely watched trains letterboxd your life in film. Closely watched trains film by menzel 1966 britannica. An apprentice train dispatcher at a village station seeks his first sexual encounter and becomes despondent when he is unable to perform. Jan sveraks kolya 1997 also received international attention. It is a comingofage story about a young man working at a train station in germanoccupied czechoslovakia during world war ii. This is a gentle film about innocence, sit back and be charmed. A must see film four a real charmer from the heyday of the czech new wave time out few european films are so affectionately remembered as closely observed trains. Renowned film scholar georges sadoul in his dictionary of films wrote, jiri menzels first feature recalls the work of milos forman in its elliptically funny, but tender observation of the quirks of humanity. Closely observed trains members choice spring summer. Menzel is still active in filmmaking but, nearly half a century later, his debut feature remains his most famous work. It was released in the united kingdom as closely observed trains.
New 4k restoration by the czech national film archive. The most ambitious on the ground presentation will be at new yorks anthology film archives, in whose series closely watched trains traveling light is showing alongside such other brilliant train cinema as shanghai express, emperor of the north, and the narrow margin. He undergoes several philosophical changes as he becomes attracted to the. Closely watched trains by bohumil hrabal goodreads. Danny kaye presents the oscar for foreign language film to czechoslovakia for closely watched trains at the 40th academy awards. V clav neck r, josef somr, vlastimil brodsky, vladim r valenta, alois vachek, ferdinand kruta, jitka bendov, jitka zelenohorsk, nada urb nkov, libuse havelkov, jiri menzel, closely observed trains 1966 closely watched trains, closely observed trains 1966, closely watched trains, jiri menzel, v clav neck r. There is a strong czech tradition in producing animated films, with the work of jiri trnka and jan svankmajer being perhaps the most revered. It has won several international awards, including an oscar for best foreign film in 1967.
This film is a stylish and sensitive examination of adolescent fears and insecurities, a topic that never ever goes out of fashion. For those not in new york, stay tuned for news of the films online premiere. Jiri menzels closely observed trains on bluray and dvd in november. Its victory as 1968s best foreign film is listed on as closely watched trains. One response to closely watched trains closely observed trains 1967. Closely watched trains at a village railway station in occupied czechoslovakia, a bumbling dispatchers apprentice longs to liberate himself from his virginity. Listed as one of the standouts of the czech new wave, this beautiful 1966 film is about czech rebellion against the nazis at the end of ww2 and a nearperfect dissection of how male.
Closely watched trains the current the criterion collection. Like postriziny, closely watched trains began as a czech novel by bohumil hrabal, was adapted into a film by jiri menzel, and then became a popular stage show. Wry and tender, academy awardwinning closely watched trains is a masterpiece of human observation and one of the bestloved films of the czech new wave. Cowritten by the great czech novelist bohumil hrabal author of the classic source novella, closely observed trains won menzel a best foreign film oscar. The film has certainly dated in its unabashed sexism, but its message of smaller personal concerns being swamped by greater political ones is still touching. Closely watched trains 1966 directed by jiri menzel. Scattered throughout the film are leitmotifs that represent sex. Oscar for best foreign language film plus bafta and golden globe nominations. Michael brooke explores the sixfilm collaboration between menzel and novelist bohumil hrabal. Closely observed trains message from the czech new wave. Ostre sledovane vlaky closely watched trains 1966 rotten. Beyond menzel, the name to survive is milos forman, whose the firemans ball 1968 was very much of a piece with the film under discussion, and who then of course went on to great success in hollywood with one flew over the cuckoos nest 1975 and amadeus 1984. Arrow academy is pleased to announce the uk bluray premiere release of jiri menzels muchloved czech classic closely observed trains. Jiri menzel closely watches a young man whose life revolves.
The use of trains is one of the oldest trends in cinema. This academy award winning film can be the czechoslovakian version of so many of the judd apatow films we see today. The 1968 oscar winner for best foreignlanguage film was an arthouse hit of its day and still stands up very well now. Closely watched trains in czech ostre sledovane vlaky, is a 1966 czech film by jiri menzel, based on a short novel of the same name by famous czech writer bohumil hrabal. Few european films are so affectionately remembered as closely observed trains, one of the pinnacles of the czech new wave of the 60s, brutally cut short by the soviet invasion of czechoslovakia. A prominent example of the czech new wave, closely observed trains follows the exploits of young. Closely observed trains senses of cinema film journal. May 30, 2016 closely observed trains or closely watched trains as its often called as well is one of the best known and wellloved films to come out of the czechoslovak new wave of the 60s. Few european films are so affectionately remembered as closely observed trains, one of the pinnacles of the czech new wave of the 60s. In the story we follow young milos during the last days of wwii.
Cowritten by the great czech novelist bohumil hrabal author of the classic source novella, closely observed trains won menzel a best foreign film oscar when he was still in his twenties, and it remains one of the bestloved of all czech films. It merges a typical comingofage story with large amounts of humor and a somewhat uncommon war story. Sep 20, 2015 closely observed trains was the first fulllength film directed by jiri menzel, made when he was only twentyeight years old. Closely observed trains is out now on bluray and dvd. Rent closely watched trains 1966 on dvd and bluray dvd. Closely watched trains 1966 the criterion collection. In the meantime, we are lucky to have closely watched trains, a film that remains as fresh and potent as it was when we first saw it so many years ago, a film that continues to reward many a close rewatching. A real charmer from the heyday of the czech new wave time out few european films are so affectionately remembered as closely observed trains the. Ostre sledovane vlaky is a 1966 czechoslovak film directed by jiri menzel and is one of the bestknown products of the.
In the story, based on bohumil hrabals novel of the same name, vaclav neckar plays a czech railroad worker during the nazi occupation. Film a blonde and jiri menzels closely watched trains 1967, which won an academy award. Czech director jiri menzels closely watched trains ostre sledovane vlaky was the recipient of the academy award for best foreign language film in 1967. A real charmer from the heyday of the czech new wave, set during the german occupation but totally immersed in.
Closely watched trains is a quiet, charming, very, human film. The main difference that concerns us here is the presence or absence of a spanking scene. This is the trailer to closely watched trains taken from the criterion dvd. Closely watched trains is a film i had been looking forward to watching for a long time and finally received in the post this week. Ostre sledovane vlaky is a 1966 czechoslovak film directed by jiri menzel and is one of the bestknown products of the czechoslovak new wave. Closely watched trains is a czech film that won the oscar for best foreign film in 1967. Archival interviews with director jiri menzel, cinematographer jaromir sofr and film historian jan lukes. Theres never been any agreement about translating the participle. Beyond menzel, the name to survive is milos forman, whose the firemans. Nov 16, 2015 thats certainly the case in this award winning and well loved 1966 film from jiri menzel. Closely observed trains itself won an oscar for best foreign film. So straight off were starting a virtual film club more ideas coming soon we can all watch a free film at the same time and join the discussion via facebook afterwards. With vaclav neckar, josef somr, vlastimil brodsky, vladimir valenta.
The novel by bohumil hrabal is generally known in english as closely observed trains, and that is the phrase that, in the subtitles, issues from the lips of an official who warns the railway guards in a czech village station to do. Wry and tender, academy awardwinning closely watched trains is a masterpiece of human observation and one of the bestloved films of the czech new. He is under the tutelage of a train dispatcher who seems a zealot when it comes to seducing women. Oblivious to the war and the resistance that surrounds him, this young man embarks on a journey of sexual awakening and selfdiscovery, encountering a universe of frustration.
Closely observed trains won the best foreign film oscar and sparked a brief craze for czech filmmaking in the west. A must see film four a real charmer from the heyday of the czech new wave time out few european films are so affectionately remembered as closely observed trains the guardian. Other directors took their inspiration from czech literature, most notably jiri menzel whose adaptation bohumil hrabals closely observed trains won the academy award for best foreign language film in 1966, and jaromil jiress, whose adaptation of milan kunderas the joke 1968 was described by amos vogel as possibly the most. Edith pargeter 1968 is perhaps the best known or least obscure of hrabals works, having been filmed a year after publication. Indeed, if youre charged up emotionally, youd better lie down for an hour or two before going to see it.