The Cycle of Czech and Slovak Film: The Joke

The tragicomedy The Joke (1969), a film adaptation of Milan Kundera’s acclaimed novel, reveals the dark truth of ideological repression in 1950s Czechoslovakia. Directed by Jaromil Jireš, 80 minutes. Introductory presentation of the film: Lucija Mandić.

We follow the story of Ludvík Jahn, who cannot come to terms with the injustice that has been done to him. As a student, he was persecuted for a simple postcard with sarcastic text he sent to a classmate. The film won numerous awards and was one of the few at the time to shed light on a subject that had long remained silent.