Reviews of Closely Watched Trains
Displaying all 3 reviews
Byron Brubaker
25Jul09
Overall the story was a little uneven. It had a different sense of humor than I’m used to, but I did find it to be very funny. It’s a foreign film in black and white set during WWII, in some ways a simpler more innocent time, but it deals with sexual themes in a humorous way like The Graduate or The 40 Year Old Virgin or even American Pie. There are probably some better examples of Hollywood copying this type of story, but I can’t think of more off the top of my head right now.
Milos gets his first job working as a train station dispatcher. It shouldn’t require too much hard work and he wants it that way so he can uphold the family tradition. The two men he works for always have sex on their minds (well the boss is married and has to be careful, so he likes taking care of pigeons too). Most of the women who appear in the story are flirtatious and attractive, the sort to occupy young men’s dreams. Milos actually has a budding relationship with Masa. She is a conductor for a train that regularly goes by the station, and like the slightly older more sexually aware professional women she is, she takes the lead in suggesting they spend the night together. When he gets nervous and can’t perform, he becomes depressed and attempts suicide. The director, Jiri Menzel, plays a doctor who advises Milos that premature ejaculation is perfectly normal and to think about fútbol. The doctor also advises that he should find a much older experienced woman to break him in so he’ll be ready for the next time with his girlfriend. Then a good part of the rest of the movie involves Milos trying to find an older willing woman.
Meanwhile, the Nazis stop by a couple times too to spread propaganda about the Fuhrer’s purpose being to help all humanity. There is an underground movement that sees an opportunity to have a bomb dropped on a German train carrying munitions through the station where Milos works. And through the sexual escapades of a couple of his coworkers providing a distraction this heavy responsibility falls on Milos. Like I said, there are a lot of funny situations that then abruptly surprise you with a few tragic occurrences.
- Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
Federique Baxter
7Mar09
I have to admit the ending was quite predictable to me. I blame that on watching way too many other movies that pull off similar feats; but with that aside I couldn’t find anything else in the film and was kept pleasantly immersed in it’s charm and unassuming nature.
What I really enjoyed was the steady build up to it’s climax, the scenarios were very well paced and the off-beat dialogue kept me interested long enough to really feel for the unlucky hero (poor bastard) and his various exploits.
My favorite scene is definitely the one in the bordello which not only effectively drew me deeper into Milo’s universe but also (not wanting to give too much away) poignantly reminds anyone how painful growing up can be.
Overall a very good film and an excellent starting point to introduce czech new wave to friends and new film fans alike.
salikshah
21Feb09
It took me months (what seemed like ages) to finally become a man. I couldn’t control my laughter, nervousness and youthfulness while watching Closely Watched Trains (1966) by Czechoslovakian director Jirí Menzel. I was reading Marilyn Fabe’s book Closely Watched Films – An Introduction to the Art of Narrative Film Technique which is named after this film.
Every man would want to master the techniques of lovemaking. Someone said, “I learned the sex the hardest way — from books!” Milos Hrma thinks people laugh at him because of his funny name. I was laughing at this lad throughout the film. He suffers from what a doctor said ‘premature ejaculation’ (lack of confidence and ‘practice’). He tries to commit suicide because he was "no longer a man” after the foreplay with his pretty chick. But he survives. The doctor tells him to find an older (experienced) woman who can teach him (what you know). The boob asks everyone he meets whether they know such a mistress. Even the professionals would shy away from that kind of problem.
I ‘liked’ the train dispatcher. Watching him chasing the girl was real fun. The girl’s mother showing her legs stamped in ‘pure’ Nazi language was hilarious. How the girl describes the ‘game for tokens’ was worth watching. That was the most tempting part in the film. Oh, I am still young enough to blush. I was blushing seeing all those pretty girls ready for a photo shoot. The uncle’s hands on all the wrong (right?) places! But I had not expected nurses to be so naughtyyyy!
I’m twenty and this is a very good year for me. I don’t want to learn it in the hardest way. I am young, handsome and strong too! Should I also become a train dispatcher? Writing is boring. See I am alone. “Hello ladies!!!” The film is really a coming-of-age story. The most difficult (and important) part of writing is the conclusion. It was very satisfying to see Menzel leaving me with a sad surprise after all the fun. Maybe he wanted to say a male bee dies after mating (and I don’t want to die- TEETH). Dark humour?
— July 20, ’08
- Currently 4.0/5 Stars.