Closely Watched Trains

Picture Closely Watched Trains

Closely Watched Trains

Original title: Ostře sledované vlaky
Director: Jiří Menzel
Cast: Václav Neckář, Josef Somr, Libuše Havelková, Jitka Zelenohorská
Country: Czechoslovakia
Year of production: 1966
Length (min): 88
Language: Czech
Sales: Národní Filmový Archiv
Section: Tribute: Jiří Menzel

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It is the Second World War and Germany is losing on all fronts. The young Miloš Hrma has begun a training on probation in a small railway station. The station master, a passionate pigeon-breeder, has a kind wife, but is nevertheless envious of the train dispatcher Hubička's success with women. Miloš's still-platonic love is the pretty train dispatcher Máša. The experienced Hubička introduces Miloš to the facts of life, at the same time learning that the young man is still a male virgin. The idyll at the railway station is disturbed by the arrival of councillor Zednicek.

Jiří Menzel

He studied at FAMU and, together with other fellow-students, helped to bring international recognition to Czechoslovak cinematography during the 1960s. He gave his successful debut with an adaptation of Hrabal´s Closely Watched Trains which won him an Oscar. He continued to focus chiefly on humorous adaptations of literary works, in particular, Bohumil Hrabal and Vladislav Vančura, and lightly stylised comedies, of which his most celebrated is My Sweet Little Village.

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