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The Joke

Play trailer Poster for The Joke 1969,  1h 20m,  Comedy/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist - - 3 Reviews Tomatometer 66% 250+ Ratings Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 3 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Ludvik Jahn (Josef Somr) is a card-carrying member of the Communist party until he makes the error of telling a joke that goes over poorly. Stripped of his membership, Ludvik plots his retaliation for almost two decades before deciding to get back at his former comrades by having an affair with Helena (Jana Dítetová), the spouse of a party official. It soon becomes evident that Ludvik's efforts are in vain, however, leaving him further embittered and in search of a way to exorcise his demons.

Critics Reviews

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Lewis Teague Los Angeles Free Press Jan 17, 2020
The Joke is remarkable for its patient development of mood, and... its ability to create villains that are thoroughly human, villains for whom one must have some forgiveness. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Nov 17, 2014
B
Compelling tragicomedy. Go to Full Review
Jeremy Heilman MovieMartyr.com Jul 25, 2002
4/4
Jires' exceptional and sometimes incongruent damnation of his homeland is in turns mournful, furious, conflicted, and resolved to failure, but it's never less than moving. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Poe P May 21, 2017 Interesting, if uninvolving, look at life under Communist rule in post-WWII Czech Republic.
Kylo W Apr 5, 2017 "comedy" set out to make fun and undermine the achievements of the communist revolution. It sucks.
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The Joke

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Jaromil Jires

Director

Josef Somr

Ludvik Jahn

Jana Dítetová

Helena Zemánková

Ludek Munzar

Pavel Zemánek

Evald Schorm

Kostka

Vera Kresadlova

Brozová

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The Joke

The Joke (1969) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Ludvik Jahn (Josef Somr) is a card-carrying member of the Communist party until he makes the error of telling a joke that goes over poorly. Stripped of his membership, Ludvik plots his retaliation for almost two decades before deciding to get back at his former comrades by having an affair with Helena (Jana Dítetová), the spouse of a party official. It soon becomes evident that Ludvik's efforts are in vain, however, leaving him further embittered and in search of a way to exorcise his demons.
Director
Jaromil Jires
Screenwriter
Jaromil Jires
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
Czech
Release Date (DVD)
May 31, 2011
Runtime
1h 20m
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