Movie

To Make A Comedy Is No Fun

In 1968, Czechoslovakian director Jiří Menzel wins the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film with CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS – his first feature film ever. Only one year later his next film LARKS ON A STRING is banned by the government. But Menzel decides to stay in socialist Czechoslovakia and continues working as director and actor for theatre and film. His comedies and costume dramas are a commercial success, gently testing the boundaries of authorities with his well hidden political messages. Today, filmmakers like Miloš Forman, Ken Loach, Emir Kusturica or István Szabó are amongst his admirers and friends. JIRÍ MENZEL – TO MAKE A COMEDY IS NO FUN tells the story of this exceptional filmmaker for the first time.

Original Title To Make A Comedy Is No Fun
German Title To Make A Comedy Is No Fun
French Title To Make A Comedy Is No Fun
Other Titles Jiří Menzel - To Make A Comedy Is No Fun
Directed by Robert Kolinsky
Country Czech Republic
Available Formats Blu-ray, DCP
Screenplay Robert Kolinsky
Film Editing Andrea Pugner
Cinematography Elia Lyssy, Jana Marsik, Ines Thomsen und Jan Kuldan
Production Catpics AG, Alfi Sinniger & Sarah Born
Runtime 80 Min.
Language Englisch, Tschechisch,Deutsch, Französisch/d/f
Actors
Jiří Menzel
Milos Forman
Emir Kusturica
Ken Loach
Istvan Szabo
Werner Düggelin
Vera Chytilová
Julia Jentsch
Rolf Lyssy
Rolf Knie
Magda Vašaryová
Bolek Polívka
Míla Řádová
Awards

Solothurn IFF 2016
Bolzano FF 2016

«Es war ein Dokumentarfilm über einen Grossen des Weltkinos, der für einen der unvergesslichsten Momente an diesen Filmtagen sorgte. Es geht um den Film «To Make a Comedy Is No Fun – Jiri Menzel». Der Titel des Dokumentarfilms über den 1938 geborenen tschechischen Regisseur, der zu den herausragendsten Figuren der tschechischen Nouvelle Vague gehörte, lässt den umwerfenden Witz Menzels erahnen, der 1968 für seine Komödie «Scharf beobachtete Züge» den Oscar für den besten nichtenglischsprachigen Film erhalten hatte. Der Dokumentarfilm des 1970 in Solothurn geborenen Robert Kolinsky, der als Pianist in Basel seit vielen Jahren ein Musikfestival leitet, führt mit grösster Sorgfalt und Liebe durch Menzels unglaubliches Universum.» Neue Zürcher Zeitung


«Menzel ist nichts heilig, auch nicht er selbst; und so unterhaltsam und pointiert erzählt er auch von sich und seinen Filmen.» ProgrammZeitung, Nicolas Passavant

Dossier_Medien (7585 kB)

Flyer_Comedy (757 kB)

© COPYRIGHT

Texts as well as any visual and audio material on the website of the trigon-film foundation are intended for reporting on the respective film or the promotion of the theatrical release. The material is available free of charge only for reporting on the respective film or its promotion. Any other usage is forbidden through copyright and has to be discussed with trigon-film. Passing on the material to a third party in return for payment or for free is strictly prohibited. The copyright reference © trigon-film.org is mandatory. By using our material you accept our copyright regulations!

Shop