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Customer Reviews of The Joke

Minor Czech New Wave
The Czeck New Wave produced some classics: Loves of a Blonde, Firemens Ball, Shop on Main Street, Closely Watched Trains. But this is just a minor classic. While the black and white cinematography is really something the film just doesn't rise to the level of those other films mentioned. Its close though. Based on a Milan Kundera novel the story takes place in Czechoslavakia in the 1950's when many students were caught up in the communist propaganda that looked innocent enough if you didn't look too deeply. From a distance it looks like one long springtime celebration of youth and purity and optimism. However this is just the surface truth for while these celebrations are going on others are being rounded up and denounced and sentenced to long prison terms for their "crimes". One student who refuses to get caught up in all the hype writes a letter to his girlfriend in which he states, "optimism is the opium of the masses." For this one line his girlfriend turns him in and his friends denounce him. He is sentenced to 6 years of hard labor as a result. During the trial he claims he wrote the line merely as a joke and thus the title of the film. We view these events in flashback after the "criminal" has been released and has returned to his home town. As he walks the streets and runs into old acquaintances he can barely contain an urge to strike out against all those smiling faces that once condemned him. Finally he does strike out. The stark black and white cinematography captures the utter alienation and contempt that this character feels. There is not a shred of sentimentality in this film. The effect is that it makes each thing seem matter of fact; this guys fate--the fact that he spent his youth in a work camp-- just seems utterly inconsequential to everyone. The tragedy is that not only was his youth stolen from him but that the social hypocrisy perpetuated by the communist regime has ruined his faith in life. When you think back about the film you remember the main characters sardonic smile and the one little joke that changed everything for him and became the defining moment of his life. The films abrupt and ironic ending may seem to leave you wondering if the film makers just ran out film or what. But actually the ending seems appropriate--everything about this guys life has been absurd and so the ending has to be equally absurd.

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Why hasn't anyone seen this?
Get a hold of this movie if you can. Jires was a great director and artist who never quite got the recognition he deserved outside of his home country of Czechoslovakia, unlike his peers Menzel and Forman; this is mostly due to the fact that he stayed in the country and was stifled by the harsh Soviet rulers. It's great that Facets has made this available and I hope that Jires' next film, Valerie and Her Week of Wonders gets a release on dvd also.
This film is stylish, witty, and sad all at the same time.