Author Milan Kundera played a role in the Czechoslovak New Wave via several big screen adaptations of his own works. One example is Já truchlivý Bůh (I, the Distressing God, 1969), a film inspired by a short story from his Směšné lásky (Laughable Loves) collection. Another adaptation is Žert (The Joke, 1968), which is drawn from Kundera’s first novel of the same name, first published in 1967. Two years later, he and co-writer/director Jaromil Jireš worked on the film version of this tragicomedy. One of the most famous Czechoslovak films of the 1960s, The Joke concerns itself with the issue of Stalinist repression. Ludvík Jahn, the hero of the story, falls victim to just such repression in this highly-regarded film starring Josef Somr. As a young man, Jahn sends a postcard to a fellow student with some lines mocking the authorities. This causes him to be expelled from both school and The Party. He ends up arrested, and made to endure prison, a forced labour camp (where he spends three years digging in the mines) and military service. After his release, Ludvík returns to his native hometown in Moravia in order to have his revenge on former schoolmate and friend Zemánek (Luděk Munzar) – the man responsible for ruining his life. He decides to seduce Zemánek’s wife, radio reporter Helena (Jana Dítětová), but Ludvík’s plan fails to yield the sought-after retribution. For the new deeds do little to diminish the memories of the past. As the townsfolk celebrate a folklore festival, Ludvík remains alone as an embittered victim afflicted with an incurable sense of rage and resentment. Director Jireš and cinematographer Jan Čuřík create a powerful tale in which the viewer is brought back in time to a world of Moravian folk costumes and music. The flashback sequences to Somr’s pre-prison days are integrated into the story via random associations in which Ludvík is inspired to look back at his past. The film, which was locked away in the censors’ vault at the start of the “normalisation” era, gradually found favour with international audiences at festivals in London, New York, Delhi and other locations worldwide. A screening of Czech and Slovak films at an awards festival in Sorrento, Italy, saw Žert win the Silver Siren Award, while the motion picture picked up the OCIC Award for best adaptation at the 1969 San Sebastian International Film Festival.
Ludvík Jahn returns to his native city after many years to meet the radio reporter Helena Zemánková, who plans to broadcast a story on a local traditional folk festival, Ludvík wants to have his revenge. Helena has no idea that Ludvík's interest in the meeting is not caused by her withering appeal but her husband's photograph which Ludvík spotted in her cigarette case. Fifteen years ago, Pavel Zemánek was Ludvík's faculty colleague, chairman of the faculty organization of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia and also his best friend. At that time, Ludvík's colleague and love Markéta sent him from her training a letter full of swollen optimism and phrases. He sent her a reply on a postcard and closed his ironical message with the greeting "Long Live Trotsky!" His practical jokes, however, were not appreciated and, thanks to Pavel, Ludvík was expelled both from the party and the school and sent to military service with the so-called "Black Barons," Auxiliary Technical Battalions, then to military prison and finally for three year's work in the mines. Ludvík wants to have his revenge on the hated Pavel by seducing his wife. In a lent flat, Ludvík not too affectionately takes Helena into his power. When he learns that the Zemáneks marriage has been solely formal for many years already, he rejects the woman's infatuated chattering with contempt. Helena tries to commit suicide - which is as ridiculous and misshapen as Ludvík's desired revenge.
Ludvík Jahn
rozhlasová reportérka Helena Zemánková
Pavel Zemánek
studentka Markéta Pospíšilová
laborant Kostka
Voice by Bohuslav Čáp
houslista Jaroslav
voják Alexej, třídní nepřítel
Voice by Iva Janžurová
Věra Brožová, Zemánkova přítelkyně
poručík, velitel oddílu PTP
technik Jindra Tkadlečka
voják Čeněk, malíř
voják
voják
voják
voják
voják
voják
studentský funkcionář
studentský funkcionář
studentský funkcionář
studentský funkcionář
copatá dívka
oddávající na MNV
politruk
mladá žena
Voice by Jaroslav Satoranský
klarinetista
violista
cimbalista
cimbalista
houslista
houslista
houslista
houslista
houslista
houslista
zpěvák
basista
vojín
vojín
vojín
vojín
vojín
vojín
vojín
vojín
vojín
vojín
svobodník
četař
vrchní
zpívající starý muž
hlas staré ženy
hlas z pouličního rozhlasu
hlas
hlas
hlas
Milan Kundera (Žert – román)
Ladislav Winkelhöfer, Karel Kracík, Vladimír Ježek
Zdena Šnajdarová (vedoucí kostymérka), Nita Romanečová, Naděžda Ptáčková
Antonín Suchánek
pplk. František Říčka
Jana Císařová (klapka), Jan Kuděla (fotograf)
FISYO, Slovácká muzika Hradišťan, Svatopluk Bimka /klarinet/
Song Composer lidová píseň
Writer of Lyrics lidová píseň
Singer Jana Dítětová
Song Composer lidová píseň
Writer of Lyrics lidová píseň
Singer Jana Dítětová
Song Composer Ivan Petrovič Larionov
Writer of Lyrics Ivan Petrovič Larionov
Singer Alexandrovci
Singer mužský sbor
Song Composer Jiří Pauer
Writer of Lyrics Jiří Pauer
Singer sbor
Song Composer lidová píseň
Writer of Lyrics lidová píseň
Singer Slovácká muzika Hradišťan
Song Composer lidová píseň
Writer of Lyrics lidová píseň
Singer ženský sbor
Song Composer lidová píseň
Writer of Lyrics lidová píseň
Singer sbor
Song Composer lidová píseň
Writer of Lyrics lidová píseň
Singer Vincenc Moštěk
Song Composer Jan Seidel
Writer of Lyrics Bedřich Bobek
Singer sbor
Song Composer Otakar Horký
Writer of Lyrics Anežka Gorlová
Singer sbor
Song Composer lidová píseň
Žert
Žert
The Joke
film
featuretheatrical distribution
social, psychological, tragicomedy
Czechoslovakia
1968
1968
literary Screenplay approved 9 March 1968
technical Screenplay approved 30 March 1968
start of filming 17 May 1968
end of filming 25 September 1968
the first film copy approved 18 December 1968
projection approval 19 December 1968
withdrawal from distribution 31 August 1971
withdrawal from distribution 31 May 1993
premiere 27 February 1969 /unsuitable for youths/ (kino Letka /5 týdnů/, Praha)
premiere 28 February 1969 /unsuitable for youths/ (celostátní)
renewed premiere 1 July 1990 /unsuitable for youths/
renewed premiere 14 July 2022 /suitable for all ages without limit/
Ústřední půjčovna filmů (původní 1969 a obnovená 1990), Národní filmový archiv (obnovená 2022)
Tvůrčí skupina Šmída – Fikar, Ladislav Fikar (vedoucí dramaturg tvůrčí skupiny), Bohumil Šmída (vedoucí výroby tvůrčí skupiny)
feature film
81 min
2 235 meters
16mm, 35mm, DCP 2-D, BRD
1:1,37
black & white
sound
mono
Czech
Czech
without subtitles
Czech
Exhibition: Přehlídka českých a slovenských filmů 69 Sorrento
1969
Sorrento / Italy
Jaromil Jireš
Festival: 17. mezinárodní filmový festival San Sebastián
1969
San Sebastián / Spain
Jaromil Jireš
Festival: 7. filmový festival mladých Trutnov
1969
Trutnov / Czechoslovakia
Event: Ceny Trilobit 1968
1969
Praha / Czechoslovakia
Jaromil Jireš