The Joke
![The Joke](https://s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/films/b87cdc112105192e4d3abfb82eef63c0/Cyz9cny8EdPcAycuJL9YFWkofSffVM_large.jpg)
Jaromil Jireš’s brilliant adaptation of Milan Kundera’s novel tells the fragmentary tale of a man expelled from the Communist Party because of a political joke. After “rehabilitation” in the mines and a stint in prison, he hatches a revenge plot against the former friend who betrayed him. Made near the end of the Czech New Wave, The Joke is acknowledged as one of its greatest works.
Available In
![The Joke](https://s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/films/b87cdc112105192e4d3abfb82eef63c0/Cyz9cny8EdPcAycuJL9YFWkofSffVM_large.jpg)
Cast
- Josef Somr
- Ludvik Jahn
- Jana Ditětová
- Helena Zemánková
- Luděk Munzar
- Pavel Zemánek
- Jaroslava Obermaierová
- Markéta
- Milan Svrcina
- Jaroslav
- Miloš Rejchrt
- Alexej
- Evald Schorm
- Kostka
- Věra Kresadlová
- Brožová
- Michal Pavlata
- Jindra
Credits
- Director
- Jaromil Jireš
- Assistant director
- Eliska Stibrová
- Screenplay
- Milan Kundera
- Screenplay
- Jaromil Jireš
- From the novel by
- Milan Kundera
- Cinematography
- Jan Curík
- Art direction
- Ladislav Winkelhöffer
- Art direction
- Karel Kracík
- Editor
- Josef Valušiak
- Music
- Zdeněk Pololáník
- Costumes
- Helena Anyžová
- Costumes
- Zdena Šnajdarová
![](https://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/carousel-files/937119033b8998666f59b22b2a7aacd2.jpeg)
1/6
![](https://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/carousel-files/873a6eea93c221bd530a140152027202.jpeg)
2/6
![](https://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/carousel-files/efed8f7e95bdff0f1fe93cdee713d375.jpeg)
3/6
![](https://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/carousel-files/bf861b1c5b4d5a63aac55ef64fb771f0.jpeg)
4/6
![](https://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/carousel-files/8ded8759642fb4a7b4107c561f2ef986.jpeg)
5/6
![](https://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/carousel-files/81f25fc499b2751732a30c88e8647a83.jpeg)
6/6