The Joke (Zert)
Directed by Jaromil Jires
Written by Zdenik Blaha, Jaromil Jires and Milan Kundera from Kundera’s novel
1969/Czechoslovakia
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel
There was a joke in Czechoslovakia: The Communist Party dance, it’s one step forward, two steps backward, and everyone is still clapping. — Martina Navratilova
The “last film of the Czech New Wave” leaves the political allegory behind in favor of a direct, savage indictment of life under Communism.
In the 1950’s, hapless college student Ludvik Jahn writes the following note to his girlfriend: “Optimism is the opium of mankind. A “healthy spirit” stinks of stupidity. Long live Trotsky! Yours, Ludvik”. This is enough to get him expelled from both the University and the Communist Party. He spends the following 15 years incarcerated – first in a penal military unit and then in a forced labor camp.
When Ludvik returns to society, he is bent on revenge against his “friend” Pavel who was his accuser. He successfully seduces Pavel’s wife but revenge is not as sweet as Ludvik may have imagined.
This never exactly grabbed me but is undoubtedly a well-made act of not so thinly veiled political protest. It was banned for 20 years after its successful initial release. An interesting look at a pivotal time in history.
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