The Firemen's Ball
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The Firemen's Ball

"A colorful comedy, in which people dance, steal and extinguish the fire."

1967 1h 13m ★ 7.0 (243 votes) Released

The firemen of a provincial Czechoslovakian town throw a ball in honor of the old chief's retirement. There will be music and dancing, a beauty pageant and a raffle. The whole town will be in attendance. However, the proceedings are dogged by difficulty at every step. Workplace injuries, stolen prizes, a shortage of pretty girls... and fire.

Director

Miloš Forman

Screenplay

Ivan Passer

Screenplay

Miloš Forman

Screenplay

Jaroslav Papoušek

Rating
7.0
Runtime
73 min

Production

Filmové studio Barrandov Filmové studio Barrandov
Carlo Ponti Cinematografica

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Audience Reviews

D
deepkino
★ 7/10 Sep 26, 2025

Miloš Forman's final film in the Czech language is a pure critique of bureaucracy. Set entirely at a banquet honoring a dying, 86-year-old former fire chief, it masterfully depicts the event's descent into fiasco. The film exposes the decay of Czechoslovak society and its so-called socialism, making the audience smile and even laugh, all without ever compromising its sharp comedic edge. It is a rare work that brilliantly critiques authority through humor.

Keywords

small towndark comedyczechoslovakiapolitical satireczech new wavecommunist erajoyful

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