Monday, May 14, 2012

Nobody Will Laugh (1966)

Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)
Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)
Czech New Wave
Genre: Drama / Comedy
Director: Hynek Bocan
Starring: Jan Kacer, Stepánka Rehákova, Josef Chvalina
Language: Czech, English
Duration: 94 min.
Rating: 7.6
Summary:
A successful art historian who has trouble telling people difficult truths, finds himself in an inescapable situation when a small lie quickly gets out of hand.
Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)
Nobody Will Laugh is the debut feature film from Hynek Bocan, co-written with Pavel Jurácek (Every Young Man) and based on a collection of short stories written by Milan Kundera. It won the Grand Prize at the 1965 Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival.

Karel Klima (Jan Kacer), is an art history professor who leads a carefree life, living in a nice apartment with a young wannabe model. He's well regarded and his opinion is highly respected in his field. As such, he is frequently asked to write reviews of his peers' work before publication. When one such request reaches his desk, instead of outright rejecting it, he lies and writes a half-hearted and evasive reply. This small lie slowly grows into a big dilemma that soon affects all aspects of Klima's life.

It's an astute and entertaining tragicomedy that employs all of the important Czech New Wave characteristics. Natural acting and dialog using mostly non-professional actors that depicts life as it was without exaggeration. Fluid camerawork and expertly crafted black and white images that are thought provoking and fascinating to observe. Above all, the most delightful aspect, a carefully applied layer of pitch black humor, at times hilariously absurd and other times blissfully subtle, but always so perceptive and something that almost everyone can relate to.

One scene involving a committee of local community members who convene in the local pub to discuss growing concerns over Klima's private life, is one of the most chillingly accurate mirrors of the communist regime I have seen to date.

There are also some interesting playful interludes scattered throughout the picture, a series of dialog free sequences backed by a lively soundtrack composed by Wiliam Bukový, that add a bit of fun and flavor to the film.

I think it's a solid first effort from Bocan and do look forward to exploring his other work from this era, but it's not by any means an essential watch. 
Bonjour Tristesse
Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)

Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)

Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)

Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)

Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)

Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)

Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)

Nobody Will Laugh • Nikdo se nebude smát (1966)

1 comment:

d_4 said...

It sounds cool, I like the sound of the comedy and all the aspects seem really complimentary. I'm not really inclined towards it, but.. kinda am. We'll see.

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