The Firemen's Ball

The Firemen's Ball
1967
★★★★☆ 7.0/10
⏱️ 73 min
📅 Released
🌐 CS
Comedy
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.

Where to Watch (US)

Stream

Criterion Channel

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Apple TV

Cast

Jan Vostrčil
Jan Vostrčil
Head of Committee
Josef Šebánek
Josef Šebánek
Committee Member
František Debelka
František Debelka
Committee Member
Josef Valnoha
Josef Valnoha
Committee Member
Ladislav Adam
Ladislav Adam
Committee Member
Vratislav Čermák
Vratislav Čermák
Committee Member

User Reviews

deepkino
★ 7/10
September 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.

Crew

Director
Miloš Forman
Writer
Miloš Forman, Jaroslav Papoušek, Ivan Passer
Producer
Carlo Ponti, Rudolf Hájek

Production

Filmové studio Barrandov, Carlo Ponti Cinematografica

Keywords

small towndark comedyczechoslovakiapolitical satireczech new wavecommunist erajoyful