I Served the King of England

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I Served the King of England

R,

2008,

1h 58m,

Comedy/

Romance/

War

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Watchlist

79%

87 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

87 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After serving 15 years in a Czechoslovakian prison, Jan Díte looks back on his life as an aspiring millionaire. As a young man, Jan comes to believe that wealth and prestige are the ultimate source of happiness. He works his way up from a lowly train attendant to a series of jobs in prominent hotels with wealthy guests. While in constant pursuit of money, Jan has a string of affairs and a relationship with a fanatical Nazi that lead him towards temptation and social ruin.

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Critics Consensus

With charm and an eye for life's bittersweet moments, Czech New Wave master Jiri Menzel paints a picaresque story with whimsy and intellect.

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Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

Nov 21, 2008

A

The world it depicts is too dangerous and too lovely to classify.

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Jonathan F. Richards

Film.com

Nov 10, 2008

The movie is filled with wonderful moments, set pieces of absurdity, and a richness of humor. But underneath, Menzel and Hraba have a wry and sometimes painful story to tell of the history of their country in the 20th century.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Oct 18, 2008

2/5

The pseudo-sensuality is annoying and the supposed absurdism and satire are flimsy.

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

Jun 2, 2020

It's a gently amusing, surreal vision that dishes up hard truths in an unsentimental but never brutal fashion.

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Ellie Lucas

From the Front Row

Jul 6, 2019

3.5/4

A captivating, heartwarming, and ultimately life affirming celebration of what makes us human.

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Steve Erickson

Gay City News

Mar 8, 2018

... the film dishonors the history it glides through by lacking any sense of real danger.

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Jirí Menzel

Director

Ivan Barnev

Jan Díte, young

Oldrich Kaiser

Jan Díte, old

Julia Jentsch

Liza

Martin Huba

Skrivanek

Marián Labuda

Walden

Irina Palm

65%

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Irina Palm

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Synopsis

After serving 15 years in a Czechoslovakian prison, Jan Díte looks back on his life as an aspiring millionaire. As a young man, Jan comes to believe that wealth and prestige are the ultimate source of happiness. He works his way up from a lowly train attendant to a series of jobs in prominent hotels with wealthy guests. While in constant pursuit of money, Jan has a string of affairs and a relationship with a fanatical Nazi that lead him towards temptation and social ruin.

Director: Jirí Menzel
Producer: Robert Schaffer, Andrea Metcalfe
Screenwriter: Jirí Menzel
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Barrandov Studio, In Film Praha, TV Nova
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Nudity)
Genre: Comedy, Romance, War
Original Language: Czech
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 29, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $617.2K
Runtime: 1h 58m

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