Closely Watched Trains

A little tale of ordinary people which ultimately becomes a big story about the brutality of war, love and, death, based on Bohumil Hrabal’s novella.

Ostře sledované vlaky
Czechoslovakia 1966
  • English
92 min.
Accessible
  • This film is available in the following territories: Czechia, Slovakia.
About

An Italian university professor and authority on Bohumil Hrabal’s work once described the writer as a “divine railwayman.” Wouldn’t this flattering designation be appropriate, in fact, for young Miloš Hrma, even if he does begin the story as a lowly apprentice train dispatcher? Do we know anyone else with such a “divinely” astonished gaze, innocent expression and artless manner? Miloš is failing in his attempts to lose his virginity and, when the pretty train conductress Máša makes a beeline for him, it’s no surprise that his manhood issues start to engulf him. Yet it seems that all the characters at this godforsaken little train station are wrapped up in their own private world as well, despite the fact that the war is on and times are hard. The film envelops its viewers in a nostalgic mood; filled with sparkling quips and anecdotes, it radiates a pure, lyrical beauty, and then suddenly tips over into tragedy. A little tale of ordinary people which ultimately becomes a big story about the brutality of war, love, and death.

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Credits
Director: Jiří Menzel
Based on: Bohumil Hrabal
Screenplay: Bohumil Hrabal, Jiří Menzel
Cinematography: Jaromír Šofr
Music: Jiří Šust
Sound: Jiří Pavlík
Editing: Jiřina Lukešová
Production Design: Oldřich Bosák
Producer: Zdeněk Oves
Costumes: Olga Dimitrovová
Cast: Václav Neckář, Josef Somr, Vlastimil Brodský, Vladimír Valenta, Alois Vachek, Ferdinand Krůta, Jitka Bendová, Jitka Zelenohorská
Awards

Academy Awards

1968 – Jiří Menzel (Best Foreign Language Film)

Links
  • This film is available in the following territories: Czechia, Slovakia.