The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Svejk During the World War (original Czech title of Jaroslav Hasek's unfinished work, known internationally as The Good Soldier Svejk or The Brave Soldier Chveik) is a classic of world literature and the most translated novel in all of Czech literature.
It is the story of the adventures of a poor private soldier, of little intelligence but enormous loquacity, in the meanders of the great war, symbolizing the innocence and ignorance of the people, dragged into a terrible war by the ruling aristocracy and bourgeoisie, without even knowing the reasons why they were fighting.
This poor idiot, who nevertheless possesses an enviable instinct for survival against all adversities, the result of luck and his natural stupidity, is a tragicomic hero, a toy in the hands of power who survives against all logic and probability. A symbol of the absurdity of war.
The work has been adapted into everything from films, plays, an opera, comics, and the hero even has multiple statues and monuments in several countries.
This 1958 Poslusne hlásím, known as I Dutifully Report, is the sequel to the cinema adaptation of the novel made by Karel Stekly the previous year and is probably the best-known film adaptation of the work.
It is an unpretentious and popular film, a result of the success of the work and the previous adaptation, which, despite some funny moments, rarely captures the critical and philosophical spirit of the novel.
It is much more a comedy aimed at a less demanding audience than a fair tribute to the immortality of this modern Sancho Panza. But, even so, it is worth watching.
I Dutifully Report
1958 [CZECH]
Comedy / War
7.4/10
843
Plot summary
A comedy based on the novel of Jaroslav Hašek's The Good Soldier Svejk happens during the World War I. I Dutifully Report: In the introduction to the second part of the film adaptation of Hašek's novel The Good Soldier Švějk presents his main character Josef Švejk. With the distinctive traditional Czech cartoon character of a soldier Svejk, this time you meet on the way to the front and eventually right in the firing line. You can look at his famous train events, and also probably the most famous episode of the novel, Švejk's Budějovice anabasis. Don't miss the scene with the secretly bought cognac, the episode with Svejk as a fake Russian prisoner of war, including the court scene, and the scene in which lieutenant Dub is caught in a brothel. Despite the criticism, Steklý's adaptation is undoubtedly the most famous and memorable at present.
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April 19, 2024 at 02:40 PM
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Great movie, if you know the history behind it
First thing I must mention is, that I am from Czech Republic and i've read the book, therefore my opinion may be a bit skewed. Despite of it all, I think this movie is brilliant comedy and nicely shows the absurdity of the first world war from perspective of Austria-Hungarian soldier. It shows life as it went on in that period of time and manages to throw in a few jokes for those, who know how it all ended up. Often times it is said, that vejk is the archetype of every Czech person and even though I'm not sure if I agree, he is the source of comedy and drama in the movie. If you dislike the main character, there's almost no point in watching the movie, but vejk grew into my heart. He is your guide through these times, and the fact that you don't know, if he is cunning or stupid enforces the comedy. All things considered, it's and amazing historical movie and a solid comedy, with absurdity as it's main topic.
I am from the USA and I love this film.
My tastes run counter to those of my fellow countrymen, it would seem. I have been watching films from all over the world all my life. At least half of the films I view and review are from other countries. Having said that it is not necessary to have a foreign background to watch this historical comedy. You only need the patience to read the subtitles. A pause button may be helpful.