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.
| Tagline | A colorful comedy, in which people dance, steal and extinguish the fire. |
| Release Date: | Dec 15, 1967 |
| Genres: | Comedy |
| Production Company: | Filmové studio Barrandov, Carlo Ponti Cinematografica |
| Production Countries: | Czechoslovakia, Italy |
| Casts: | Jan Vostrčil, Josef Šebánek, František Debelka, Josef Valnoha, Ladislav Adam, Vratislav Čermák, Václav Novotný, František Paska, František Reinstein, Josef Řehořek, J. Řeháček |
| Status: | Released |
| Budget: | $0 |
| Revenue: | 0 |
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.
