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Strong and Moving!

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Better Late Then Never

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

While "The Firemen's Ball" is looked upon as one of the finest allegorical satires of communism of all time, I had no idea what to expect before viewing it. I only knew it as a famous Czech comedy from the masterful filmmaker Milos Forman (a man whose name may not be household, but whose films certainly are, most notably "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Amadeus"), and had no knowledge of its political context. After sensing some heavy satirical vibes that I could not exactly code, I learned about the time and place in which this film was made, and its overall political context.However, although the political context is a key to uncovering this comedy's genuine mastery, this is an entertaining and stunning movie all meanings aside. It is short, faced paced, witty, ironic, full of constant(ly hilarious) gags, and is even poignantly melancholic at times. There is sadness and sorrow hidden deep within this farcical romp, as brief moments flicker with an inner pain. Forman does not create any melodrama, but simple sprinkles bites of poeticism throughout this gigantic joke in a way that is subtle and, therefore, brilliantly effective.If one simply ignores the meanings and contexts behind this masterpiece, there is still a wonderfully funny and occasionally sad comedy to behold that will entertain almost any avid moviegoer. Fans of filmmaking (and especially comic/satiric filmmaking) MUST witness this brilliant and brief laugh riot as soon as possible, for it is among the finest art house comedies ever made.

Milos Forman is one of those directors with an incredibly unique voice but such an extensive career that it's difficult to believe they're from the same man. Amadeus and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest are some of the better Best Picture choices from the Academy and Man On The Moon was a sentimental favourite back in the day. I'd always been curious about his earlier Czech career but only now have I watched The Fireman's Ball and realized that he's always been a talent. Most of its scenes feel like a farce, almost like a Jacques Tati film seen through a veritie lens. It's pure joy to watch things escalate out of control over such small things. Despite the 4:3 ratio limitations, the colourful cinematography is wonderful and it fits perfectly with the music and ensemble of characters. It's a truly great satire which is always interesting and surprising if very simple. I wish more films were like this as through its satire it says a lot about the attitudes and behaviour of society. I'm definitely going to look out for more Forman.9/10

This Czech satire is nearly perfect for what it is, but you'll have to decide its value for you. It's smart and thought-out.But it's illuminating how it is unlike the previous film of the same team of writer and filmmaker, Loves of a Blonde. Both films are about social situations as they engage and spin humans. In Loves however, each situation was both a skit and sensitive insight of the heroine exploring herself through her stories of having been explored by men.The main situation here is that it's the annual firemen's ball. But each new one on top of that is simply diversion, plainly so. The beauty contest as diversion from honoring the previous chairman. The fire as diversion from gawking at the girls. The stolen lottery as diversion from the plight of the man whose house burned down. There is a lot of hiding around and fooling others. The childish firemen in their fine uniforms may as well be Party higherups, tasked through the night to carry out a few simple duties, all of which they bungle, all because they wanted some diversion. (the girls are deliberately ugly, to keep us from gawking and missing the point)Where Bunuel would cruelly emphasize stupidity, Forman shows petty but human beings, retains a spontaneous flow of life, all of which elevate the film to something I can enjoy.But as with every film, it comes down to what you think sufficiently explains the world. Is it foolishness in the gears of state? Is it desire, stifled or overflowing that's causing misery? Some more puzzling urge for story in the soul that is creating images?More to the point, the film is about the emptiness of having to be entertained. So it is perfect for what it is. At what cost though? The film itself is empty. So you'll have to decide the value and novelty of the lesson.

I liked this movie, but then I like slower moving movies with actors that look like real people. This film gives real historical insight into a communist society, including how artists such as Forman tried to get a message through without being completely censored. I have a question about this film, however. I keep reading and hearing that this film uses no professional actors, and the firemen you see are the real firemen from a small town in Bohemia. However, several of these actors were also in Loves of a Blonde, which was an earlier film. So, I surmise that some of the firemen were the real firemen, and others were actors he had used before. This film is well worth seeing. I laughed aloud several times, and smiled through all of it. He has a gift for the small moments of humor and pathos in anyone's life, and it is quite a humorous comment on Czechoslovakian communist society.