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The Firemen's Ball

1967 · Movie · 73 min · ★ 7.1 · 86% critics

Comedy

At a small-town fire brigade ball honoring a retiring chief, the night promises music, dancing, a raffle, and a beauty contest. But as the celebration unfolds, missing prizes, awkward organizing, and mounting mishaps turn the event into a chaotic comedy that keeps slipping further out of control.

Also known as Like a House on Fire

IMDb

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Details
Original title
Hoří, má panenko
Years
1967
Release date
1967-12-15
Language
CS
Runtime
73 min
Critic score
86/100
TMDB rating
7.1/10 (249 votes)
About

If you enjoy dry, escalating social farce and satire of committees and small-town incompetence, this pairs well with Loves of a Blonde or Closely Watched Trains; Not for you if awkward humor and messy chaos frustrate you.

Pros: sharp satire of bureaucracy; constant escalating mishaps; funny, human chaos | Cons: uneven laughs for some; mean-spirited pageant moments; can feel aimless

Themes

  • small town
  • dark comedy
  • czechoslovakia
  • political satire
  • czech new wave
  • communist era
  • joyful

Awards & recognition

  • Academy Award — Best International Feature Film · 1969 · nominated
  • International Submission to the Academy Awards · 1969 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by Miloš Forman