Der Feuerwehrball (1967)
53KDer Feuerwehrball: Directed by Milos Forman. With Jan Vostrcil, Josef Sebánek, Josef Valnoha, Frantisek Debelka. A volunteer fire department throws a party for their former boss with the whole town invited, but nothing goes as planned.
“Without hesitation, I place u0026quot;The Firemenu0026#39;s Ballu0026quot; to the apex of world comedy, together with Buster Keatonu0026#39;s u0026quot;The Generalu0026quot;, Stanley Krameru0026#39;s u0026quot;Itu0026#39;s a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad Worldu0026quot;, Mel Brooksu0026#39; u0026quot;Young Frankensteinu0026quot; and Billy Wilderu0026#39;s u0026quot;Some Like It Hotu0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFunny-wise, this is the definition of INTELLIGENCE, WITS, SPIRIT, INSPIRATION, BRIGHTNESS. The laughs are coming non-stop, in an atrocious vein. But there is much more than that…u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eYes, there is much more – because, all being said and done, we watch an extremely sad story… The poor blundering provincials, limited, foolish, ridiculous in their stupidity, pathetically try to have a good time, and they only arrive to set-up a grotesque, sub-human masquerade… Innocent in their insanity, childish in their ignorance, their solemn ball looks like a parade of apes dressed as human beings. And the (you-know-what) hits the fan at the moment when things get really serious: the fire at Pan Havelkau0026#39;s house. During that excruciating scene, we really see the fallacy of it all.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe ending – all of it! – is the top of the masterpiece. The solemn delivery of the homage (that was stolen also from its case!), followed by the dawn shot of the two poor old men covering themselves with the same blanket, under the gently beginning snow-fall, is worthy of Chaplin. Definitely, with this movie, Forman offered a priceless heritage to the world of cinema – and culture; and spirit; and HUMANITY.”
