The Firemen's Ball

This piece of history is funny time after time, especially the not that well executed beauty contest was fun, but films amateuriesh acting lowers the points a lot. There's good excerpts here and there. As an entirety I do not rate this movie too remarkable.

Yes, a brilliant skewing of everything political in the repressed communist system without ever *really* saying so - but most importantly, it doesn't default to any high idealism. It basically just says we're all idiots. Which sometimes, we are.

another political satire, but leaves a very bad taste in your mouth after viewing, as it borders on very evilish and cynical views on human nature. sure its motivation is anticommunist.

Very delightful comedy from Milos Forman. A brigade of utterly inept firemen attempt to host a ball, with hilarious results. Short but sweet.

Just briliant!

Is it accurate? Absolutely. Is it funny? Depends on your mindset. For me, it's just too real to be funny. Don't get me wrong--this movie didn't get me down. It's just matter of fact. All the screw-ups, mistakes, and bad decisions are just matter of fact. Watching this is like hearing the news: it merely feeds my cynicism.

Forman knows what this is and doesn't overstay his welcome. The 'government ineptitude' plot has served as a blueprint for countless other films--the conclusion here deeply pessimistic about the effects on the Czech people.

-Why do firemen have bigger balls than policemen? -Because they sell more tickets.

Glorious small-town feel as an allegory for an experiment that seemed like a good idea at the time but where everyone ends up hosed.

Frantic and frenetic farce is too overstated and obvious to work as anything approaching “clever” satire, with much of the plot given over to a grimly uncomfortable skewering of the “male gaze” as the slapdash beauty pageant is thrown together. Otherwise, too loud and overdone to make an impact, though the sober and strangely touching final scene is a left-field capper.

Don't think we'd be still talking about this if its director hadn't gone on to do greater stuff - the script just rattles off what it needs to say and the camerawork is unremarkable.

this is a brilliant portrayal of how a society of spectacle comes about. it's funny, has a great rhythm, and is excellently written and expertly shot.

More satire than comedy, this is a pretty good satire, though doesn't feel too fresh given its premise (esteemed old men beautifying and objectifying women), but it's paced well in its restricted setting and leads up to a mad-cap crescendo, before its rather sad tragicomedy ending.

Amusing and enjoyable comedy of errors. Forman does seem to capture the irony of a bunch of selfish people attending a community fundraiser, especially with the ending, but certain aspects feel unnecessarily exaggerated, which hurts both the comdey and the commentary.

A brilliant satirical trainwreck. Watching it all spin out of control is consistently hilarious. Very Altman-esque as well, before Robert Altman was a thing.

# 465

Peixes

It's time to take Forman at his word: this is NOT just a critique of the crumbling Czech socialist state of the 60's but a more general lampooning of the inevitable folly of giving public sector workers too much power. There is a conservative streak in Forman that's rarely acknowledged but was ultimately confirmed with Larry Flynt that found its most humorous expression here, in this wry comedy of errors. It's slightly overrated in some circles, but its deadpan design nails its satiric target.

Delightful early film of Forman's, with fine Czech atmosphere.

The best comedy ever made in Czechoslovakia. A wonderfully satirical, brutal, yet loving portrait of the Czech people. I'm happy, proud and ashamed to say that even after 40 years, this still remains the film that captures the character of our nation best.

592

Score based on distant memory.

You will love watching these self important bunglers

82.500

Totally not a satire.

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merdiven devrilmesi, itfaiye, balo, güzellik yarismasi, onur ödülü vermek, masaalti, yangin, evi yanan adam, çekilis, çekilis ödüllerinin sayilmasi, kalin kafalilik (İtfaiye gecesi için balo düzenleyen kalin kafali bir grup itfaiyecinin olusturdugu tertip komitesi geceye katilanlar arasindan bir güzel seçip onun elinden eski itfaiye sefine onur ödülü verdirecektir.)

A thin, transparently schemed, but nevertheless spirited satire which is initially a bit menial, until it crescendos into an unexpectedly clear-eyed moment of tragedy.

awkward comedy interjected by a stirring moment of tragedy. it also seems to be an amusing allegorical satire of communism in czechoslovakia. it was fairly middling for a while but the last half-hour-ish picked up a lot, and ended rather potently.

Fim de semana especial Milos Forman (1932 - 2018) filme #1 Sátira política brilhante - dá pra ver muito do fino senso de humor que Forman posteriormente injetaria em Hair. BluRayRip MakingOff

This satire by Milos Forman perfectly nailed the paradoxes of soviet regime and bureaucracy. It didn't age that well, because it lost dangerous relevancy it had. But human nature doesn't change whatever society we live in and the film still have enough power to criticize and make fun of it.

82.375

Grew on me upon rewatching. The sad goofiness of the "beauty contest"...

656

Fun and sharp satire of the Soviet controlled Eastern Bloc, though, at least for me, rarely laugh out loud funny. Often clever, though, with some tragic moments as well. Some madcap but mostly a comedy of errors type comedy. It was banned there for a long time, and you can see why, because it's not a particularly well veiled criticism of those in power in a communist regime. That banning inspired Forman to move his filmmaking operation to America, though, which got us some great films.

#685