THE JOKE (ZERT) Czech Literature in Czech Film

Ironies abound-upbeat songs of the revolution overlap labor camp scenes, transistorized rod drowns out a folk band-as Josef Somr ( Closely Watched Trains) returns to his home town 15 years after being sent to the slammer for a “Long Live Trotsky!” postcard to his girlfriend. His mission-revenge on the squealer via seduction of his wife. But in a final irony, the informer turns out to be someone quite unexpected indeed! A very free co-adaptation from his own nave by the author of “The Unbearable Lightness of Being.”