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No consensus yet.
All Critics (30) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (3) | DVD (4)
In 1967, the year before Soviet tanks rampaged through Czechoslovakia, the Czech director Milos Forman subtly, scathingly used the premise of a quaint provincial party to mock the Party. Sep 18, 2017 | Full Review…
In 1967, the year before Soviet tanks rampaged through Czechoslovakia, the Czech director Milos Forman subtly, scathingly used the premise of a quaint provincial party to mock the Party.
Richard Brody
With Loves of a Blonde, it's the best work Forman's done, rooted in a social reality that has eluded him in his American projects. Sep 19, 2014 | Full Review…
With Loves of a Blonde, it's the best work Forman's done, rooted in a social reality that has eluded him in his American projects.
Dave Kehr
A delicious parody-fable of Slavic bureaucracy. Sep 19, 2014 | Full Review…
A delicious parody-fable of Slavic bureaucracy.
Quietly, irresistibly funny in the early Forman manner (this was his first film in colour); but the belated switch to allegorical satire seems altogether too sour in the context. Nov 17, 2011
Quietly, irresistibly funny in the early Forman manner (this was his first film in colour); but the belated switch to allegorical satire seems altogether too sour in the context.
Tom Milne
Forman has cannily used a bevy of non-actors to flesh out a practically plotless vehicle, a lively, brimming comedy on human conduct and smalltown life. Mar 26, 2009 | Full Review…
Forman has cannily used a bevy of non-actors to flesh out a practically plotless vehicle, a lively, brimming comedy on human conduct and smalltown life.
Variety Staff
The nonprofessional actors, hammy slapstick and overwrought politics make it a better conversation piece than viewing experience. Dec 10, 2008 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
The nonprofessional actors, hammy slapstick and overwrought politics make it a better conversation piece than viewing experience.
Stephen Garrett
The film is shot through with the darkest of Czech humor-everyone, from the committee to the people to the landscape itself is the butt of a joke, representative of petty rivalries, drunken idiocy, and smug leadership that cannot lead. Oct 11, 2018 | Full Review…
The film is shot through with the darkest of Czech humor-everyone, from the committee to the people to the landscape itself is the butt of a joke, representative of petty rivalries, drunken idiocy, and smug leadership that cannot lead.
Lauren Humphries-Brooks
Although the film is enormously engaging, its humour is by no means all comfortable; nor is it meant to be. Jul 14, 2018 | Full Review…
Although the film is enormously engaging, its humour is by no means all comfortable; nor is it meant to be.
Penelope Houston
I cannot remember the last time I laughed so hard that I cried, but I did for The Firemen's Ball, and more than once. Feb 11, 2015 | Rating: 89/100 | Full Review…
I cannot remember the last time I laughed so hard that I cried, but I did for The Firemen's Ball, and more than once.
Dan Jardine
A socio-political satire that thrums with warmth and spontaneity, yet so enraged Communist authorities it was banned. Sep 19, 2014 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
A socio-political satire that thrums with warmth and spontaneity, yet so enraged Communist authorities it was banned.
Jamie Graham
Begins as a gently mocking comedy of small-town manners, but ends as a blazing allegorical satire on the incompetence, insularity and ideological idiocy of the country's rulers. Sep 19, 2014 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Begins as a gently mocking comedy of small-town manners, but ends as a blazing allegorical satire on the incompetence, insularity and ideological idiocy of the country's rulers.
David Parkinson
This ingratiating farce is perhaps the last noteworthy film of the Czech renaissance before the political crackdown forced most filmmakers, director Forman and co-screenwriter Passer included, into exile. Sep 19, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
This ingratiating farce is perhaps the last noteworthy film of the Czech renaissance before the political crackdown forced most filmmakers, director Forman and co-screenwriter Passer included, into exile.
Banned from Czechoslovakia for being understood as a satire that openly mocked the heroes of the Communist regime (the people), Milos Forman's first film in color is this hilarious story made by a talented filmmaker who did know his way with an unpretentious dark comedy.
Super Reviewer
fantastically funny
A hilariously quirky little foreign comedy from a brilliant director. There aren't any really well known actors or anything like that, but it's short and simple and enjoyable, so I highly recommend it.
Director Milos Forman's last film endeavor in his native Czechoslovakia is a comedy ripe with covert political satire, so much so that it almost cost him 10 years in a socialist prison. A small town fire brigade is throwing a party to honor their retiring commissioner, complete with a dance, a prize lottery and a beauty contest. Murphy's Law applies and all that can go wrong does. Whether it's intentional or not, Forman's film has a lot to say about the fallacy of social control committees and bureaus when they run counter to common sense and human nature. The Fireman's Ball is as courageous as it is funny. Four Stars.
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