CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS

Czechoslavakia, 1962, 92 minutes, Colour/Black and white.
Directed by Jiri Menzel.

Closely Watched Trains is a Czech film which comes from a period of great cinematic revival in Czechoslovakia, the mid-'60s. It was a period under Alexander Dubcek which came to an abrupt end by the Russian invasion of Prague in 1968. it was an industry which produced the early films of Milos Forman (later in America for Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus) and Ivan Passer (Cutter's Way, Creation). Jerzy Menzel decided to stay and work in Czechoslovakia but did not a the career similar to his contemporaries.

This film won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film of 1965. It is a story of ordinary people, their interactions - but in the context of World War Two seen in retrospect.

1. An interesting and enjoyable film? Portrait of a small community. Sketch of individuals and their foibles? Tragedy?
The background of war?

2. Black and white photography? The atmosphere of the town? The railway yards? The special effects for the final crash and explosion? Musical score?

3. The title and the focus on the rail yards, the people working there, on Milos? The focus on the trains and the war effort? The final tragedy?

4. The portrait of an ordinary town in Czechoslovakia during the '40s? People's hopes and ambitions? Interactions? Loves and lusts? Betrayals? Fears? The role of authorities? Investigations? The progress of the war, the occupation? The need for heroism?

5. The portrait of Milos - at home, being dressed for his new job, going to the station, his desire to watch the trains? His relationship with the authorities? With Habieki? The attraction towards Masa? The sexual fumblings? His sense of inadequacy? His return home, his slitting his wrists in the bath? His being rescued? The talk with the doctor (played by Menzel himself)? His return? His hopes? The encounters with Masa? The news about the train? His falling onto the train? The explosion and his heroic death?

5. Habieki and the running of the station, his womanising? The effect on Milos? The authorities and the investigation? Criticisms? The other officials? The station master caring for his birds?

6. Masa and her work on the trains, attraction towards Milos, the relationship with him, her reassuring him, his disappointment? The pathos of her looking for him at the end?

7. The war situation, the authorities, the plans, the trains, the timing? The need for resistance?

8. Milos's home, his being looked after at home, love for him, concern?


9. A brief portrait and detail of Czech way of life during the war, seen with nostalgia and respect?