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, eroticism, and adventure within his sleepy backwater depot. 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. It has won several international awards, including an oscar for best foreign film in 1967. Closely observed trains 1966 closely watched trains. I dont think ive ever seen a film so filled with metaphor and sly social criticism. Each world has more than 20 groups with 5 puzzles each. Gorgeously filmed in black and white, each frame by frame echoes of a past when life was still mired in concealment and innocence. Closely watched trains movie clip quite a girl first day on the knew job, in nazioccupied czechoslovakia, milos vaclav neckar is getting schooled by conductor hubicka josef somr, when his adored masa jitka bendova makes her first appearance, in jiri menzels international hit closely watched trains, 1967. Posted on march 1, 2018 march 1, 2018 by ben butcher. Closely watched trains 1966 the criterion collection. Its the type of foreign film that connoisseurs and laypeople alike will enjoy. Nevertheless, the film is a delight, and this dvd is a good way to make your acquaintance with it, or to revisit it.
All closely watched trains movie posters,high res movie posters image for closely watched trains. Indeed, if youre charged up emotionally, youd better lie down for an hour or two before going to see it. Rent closely watched trains 1966 starring vaclav neckar and josef somr on dvd and bluray. Are you looking for neverending fun in this exciting logicbrain app. This all takes place during the nazi occupation of czechoslovakia, so there are many political overtones to the film. 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. Jiri menzel closely watches a young man whose life revolves around a desire to lose his virginity, when. It was released in the united kingdom as closely observed trains.
Closely watched trains is a slender but tightly and skillfully written novella. In the story, based on bohumil hrabals novel of the same name, vaclav neckar plays a czech railroad worker during the nazi occupation. This is the trailer to closely watched trains taken from the criterion dvd. Closely observed trains itself won an oscar for best foreign film. Closely watched trains is a great movie and one you should seek out. Closely watched trains by bohumil hrabal goodreads. 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.
Its like my life as a dog or all about my mothera crowd pleaser without being facile. 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. The top 27 films, all appearing on 6 or more best ww2 movie lists, are ranked below by how many times they appear. Here comes the blue train rolling across my heart it crawls, the rain still pouring down. With vaclav neckar, josef somr, vlastimil brodsky, vladimir valenta. Closely watched trains film by menzel 1966 britannica. Codycross is an addictive game developed by fanatee. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Closely watched trains trailer turner classic movies. It is a period piece set in occupied czechoslovakia during world war ii, however you can go over half of the movie without knowing that like i did. Postriziny certainly has one, but as for closely watched trains well, thats a matter of. The story is set in prague towards the end of the second world war. Other articles where closely watched trains is discussed. Our hospitality usa, 1923 sb74m, buster keaton, natalie talmadge 116.
Closely watched trains is a czech film that won the oscar for best foreign film in 1967. Closely observed trains, however, won hollywoods best foreign language film. In the story we follow young milos during the last days of wwii. Jiri menzels closely observed trains 1966 the author. Bohumil hrabal 191497 began writing stories when he was a member of an underground literary group in postwar czechoslovakia that. By far the most modern seeming film of the czech new wave, closely watched trains is a unique movie to experience.
Closely watched trains 1966 closely watched trains. Milos becomes involved in a plot to blow up a german ammunition train, but when the plan backfires, he is forced to commit the ultimate act of courage. Jan sveraks kolya 1997 also received international attention. Jan 19, 2018 closely observed trains, directed by jiri menzel in 1966, is a czechoslovak drama set in a small town during the nazi occupation of czechoslovakia in the second world war. 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 in august, 1968, which caused milos forman, one of its chief exponents, to flee to america. It really is a funny movie set in a heartbreaking time. Ostre sledovane vlaky closely watched trains 1966 rotten. The main difference that concerns us here is the presence or absence of a spanking scene. Apr 30, 2004 jiri menzels closely observed trains 1966 the author.
The above summary does not do justice to the concise, sparse tone of hrabals prose that conveys great depths of meaning in the course of the storys simple narrative. Another day escapes me a little later maybe, love will roll around. Starring vaclav neckar, josef somr, vladimir valenta, alois vachek and ferdinand kruta. I dont know if im ready to declare closely watched trains a masterpiece yet, but, im pretty close. 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. He undergoes several philosophical changes as he becomes attracted to. Nothing compares to the dry slow magic of closely observed trains, or perhaps nothing compared with its effect on first watching amidst a sea of lesser films when it came out. In this film, vaclav neckar plays a czech railroad worker during the nazi occupation. Notes about closely watched trains, 1967, directed by jiri menzel, with vaclav neckar, jitka bendova, vladimir valenta, available from turner classic movies. Wry and tender, academy awardwinning closely watched trains is a masterpiece. Closely observed trains, one of only three czech movies to win the best foreign. There is a strong czech tradition in producing animated films, with the work of jiri trnka and jan svankmajer being perhaps the most revered. Closely observed trains was an arthouse hit of its day, and it still stands up very well, though its pacing may be a little too gentle for some.
I also recommend the movie closely watched trains even though i could only find it on vhs after reading the book. We looked at 279 of the top ww2 films and ranked them so we could answer that very question. Closely watched trains ostre sledovane vlaky 1966 youtube. The story centers around a train station in a czech, german occupied small town and an apprentice train watcher, milos hrma, who is confused about his place in the world. Ostre sledovane vlaky is a 1966 czechoslovak film directed by jiri menzel and is one of the bestknown products of the. Closely watched trains the current the criterion collection. Ostre sledovane vlaky closely watched trains photos view all photos 2 movie info.
Rent closely watched trains 1966 on dvd and bluray. Closely observed trains won the best foreign film oscar and sparked a brief craze for czech filmmaking in the west. Rent closely watched trains 1966 on dvd and bluray dvd. Ostre sledovane vlaky is a 1966 czechoslovak film directed by jiri menzel and is one of the bestknown products of the czechoslovak new wave. An apprentice train dispatcher at a village station seeks his first sexual encounter and becomes despondent when he is unable to perform. A real charmer from the heyday of the czech new wave, set during the german occupation but totally immersed in. 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. Guised as a coming of age story of a young man, milos hrma, it is really the coming of age story of a country. 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. It definitely would not have been made by americans, i can tell you that. Closely observed trains, vaclav neckar, jitka bendova 115.
The best world war 2 movies cinema dailiescinema dailies. Dec 18, 2016 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. Closely watched trains study guide contains a biography of director jiri menzel, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. At a village railway station in occupied czechoslovakia, a bumbling dispatchers apprentice longs to liberate himself from his virginity. 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. The nazis are officially in control, and actively imposing their. Closely watched trains 1966 closely watched trains 1966.
Czech director jiri menzels closely watched trains ostre sledovane vlaky was the recipient of the academy award for best foreign language film in 1967. I enjoyed watching this movie, it really is a hopeful and humorous story about human beings in times of turmoil. Closely watched trains is a 1967 vintage hungarian movie poster designed by tibor zala. Closely observed trains 1966 closely watched trains bluray, reg. Closely watched trains at a village railway station in occupied czechoslovakia, a bumbling dispatchers apprentice longs to liberate himself from his virginity.
It comes from czechoslovakia and isnt pushy like those big american movies. I know there are several other wwii films made during the 1960s that get mentioned a lot, but offhand i think there are only two or three made during the 60s that offer or have any value. Closely observed trains 1966 perhaps forgotten when remembering the best of 20th century european cinema, jiri menzels oscar winning closely observed trains is a hugely enjoyable, unique gem of a film, and the pinnacle of the czech new wave. Closely observed trains 1966 czechoslovakia 89 mins. Nov 16, 2015 closely observed trains ostre sledovane vlaky,1966. Only two years later, the soviet invasion of the country put a stop to all that, leaving menzel unable to fully follow it up. At a village railway station in occupied czechoslovakia, a bumbling. The main character, milos hrma, is trying to regain his self image after his first devastating sexual experience.
Closely watched trains is a quiet, charming, very, human film. The train 1965 and closely observed trains 1966 are the only two i can think of hmmm. Director jiri menzel unfolds an antiwar comedy set during the german occupation of czechoslovakia about the story of young boy named milos who has a job at a small czech train station and falls in love with the beautiful masa. It merges a typical comingofage story with large amounts of humor and a somewhat uncommon war story. 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.
Thanks to the czech film industry for remastering this great film to such a high standard. Vaclav neckar plays milos hrma, a young apprentice guard in a minor train station. A short novella set during wwii tells the story of a few people from a small town in czechoslovakia through which closely watched trains german trains with troops and ammunition pass through. Closely watched trains 1966 directed by jiri menzel. Closely watched trains is a quiet, charming, very, closely watched trains is a quiet, charming, very, human film. He undergoes several philosophical changes as he becomes attracted to the. When eventually allowed to make a comparatively anodyne. Postriziny certainly has one, but as for closely watched trains well, thats a matter of opinion. Review 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. Closely watched trains is the perfect example of a smart comedy. Wry and tender, academy awardwinning closely watched trains is a.