CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS is a comedy drama, in which, the paradox of a point is included in the title. This is a reference to a shy youth, social and political turmoil, while arrogant trains of life passing by. The film is based on a 1965 novel by Bohumil Hrabal.
The young Milo Hrma, who speaks with misplaced pride of his family of misfits and malingerers, is engaged as a newly trained station guard in a small railway station during the Second World War and the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. The stationmaster is passionate breeder of pigeons and rabbits. The train dispatcher Hubička is preoccupied with women. Milo holds an as-yet platonic love for the pretty, young conductor, but he is still a virgin. The Nazi-minded Zednicek periodically visits a train station. However, it seems that his propaganda has no effect on the station staff. Problems arise when Máa wants sex with Milo...
It is a coming-of-age story about a nervous young man who is going through a kind of "sexual crisis" to a desperate knowledge. Mr. Menzel has showed a birth of a heroic act from an indifferent social environment and internal youthful anxiety. This is a charming and witty deflection from false problems.
The atmosphere is very good, while the characterization is excellent. Some scenes are imaginative to tragicomic proportions. I would not characterize this film as a kind of ideological criticism. This is only a preview of a touching reality.
Václav Neckář as Milo Hrma is a funny and tragic hero who constantly volunteers in a suicide mission. Josef Somr as train dispatcher Hubička is enough perverse, aware and sympathetic to one member of the resistance. Jitka Bendová as conductor Máa is girl who is full of understanding. Jitka Zelenohorská as telegraphist Zdenička has realized that the stamps can be very creative. Vladimír Valenta as stationmaster has understood that nothing can be black and white. Libue Havelková as stationmaster wife is a clever woman. Naďa Urbánková as Viktoria Freie is a kind of salvation, which, unfortunately, take a young life.
The young Milo Hrma, who speaks with misplaced pride of his family of misfits and malingerers, is engaged as a newly trained station guard in a small railway station during the Second World War and the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. The stationmaster is passionate breeder of pigeons and rabbits. The train dispatcher Hubička is preoccupied with women. Milo holds an as-yet platonic love for the pretty, young conductor, but he is still a virgin. The Nazi-minded Zednicek periodically visits a train station. However, it seems that his propaganda has no effect on the station staff. Problems arise when Máa wants sex with Milo...
It is a coming-of-age story about a nervous young man who is going through a kind of "sexual crisis" to a desperate knowledge. Mr. Menzel has showed a birth of a heroic act from an indifferent social environment and internal youthful anxiety. This is a charming and witty deflection from false problems.
The atmosphere is very good, while the characterization is excellent. Some scenes are imaginative to tragicomic proportions. I would not characterize this film as a kind of ideological criticism. This is only a preview of a touching reality.
Václav Neckář as Milo Hrma is a funny and tragic hero who constantly volunteers in a suicide mission. Josef Somr as train dispatcher Hubička is enough perverse, aware and sympathetic to one member of the resistance. Jitka Bendová as conductor Máa is girl who is full of understanding. Jitka Zelenohorská as telegraphist Zdenička has realized that the stamps can be very creative. Vladimír Valenta as stationmaster has understood that nothing can be black and white. Libue Havelková as stationmaster wife is a clever woman. Naďa Urbánková as Viktoria Freie is a kind of salvation, which, unfortunately, take a young life.