Hoří, Má Panenko (1967)
Czechoslovakia 71m, Colour
Director: Miloš Forman; Cast: Jan Vostrcil, Josef Sebánek, Josef Valnoha, Frantisek Debelka, Josef Kolb, Jan Stöckl
The Fireman’s Ball is a satire on Communism in its portrayal of a disastrous event that was planned by a local fire brigade to celebrate the 86th birthday of their now retired fire chief. Playing much like a silent comedy, the film includes slapstick elements such as the chasing of reluctant beauty contestants in a hastily organized pageant. Likewise, the event’s highly anticipated raffle is ruined when the guests craftily pilfer all of the prizes out from under a “guarded” table. This is a thoroughly charming and subtle farce with a genuine melancholy conclusion that is surprisingly effective and reminiscent of many of Chaplin productions (Klaus Ming March 2013).
I enjoyed this one as well. Do you think that the actual satirical edge (so, the message) was effective? Or, as you sort of indicate, the comic elements are what you found more satisfying…
I found the satire to be very effective, although I suspect that my friendships and experiences with a number of people that I met from the former Soviet-controlled states during a summer I spent working in Finland to be helpful in understanding some of the comedic nuances.