The Firemen’s Ball

A milestone of the Czech New Wave, Milos Forman’s first color film The Firemen’s Ball (Horí, má panenko) is both a dazzling comedy and a provocative political satire. A hilarious saga of good intentions confounded, the story chronicles a firemen’s ball where nothing goes right—from a beauty pageant whose reluctant participants embarrass the organizers to a lottery from which nearly all the prizes are pilfered. Presumed to be a commentary on the floundering Czech leadership, the film was “banned forever” in Czechoslovakia following the Russian invasion and prompted Forman’s move to America.

Czechoslovakia
1967
73 minutes
Color
1.33:1
Czech
Spine #145

Special Features

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

Interview with director Milos Forman
Behind-the-scenes look at the film transfer process, featuring cinematographer Miroslav Ondricek, and comments from Milos Forman
New and improved English subtitle translation

New cover by James Tung

DVD 1 Disc Out Of Print SRP: $29.95

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

Interview with director Milos Forman
Behind-the-scenes look at the film transfer process, featuring cinematographer Miroslav Ondricek, and comments from Milos Forman
New and improved English subtitle translation

New cover by James Tung