Closely Watched Trains
Seen it?1966 | 93 min | Comedy, Drama, War
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (90% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh and history buffs. If you loved Schindler's List or Stalag 17, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Funny with heart, intense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 33 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in another language, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1966: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
At a village railway station in occupied Czechoslovakia, a bumbling dispatcher’s apprentice longs to liberate himself from his virginity. Oblivious to the war and the resistance that surrounds him, this young man embarks on a journey of sexual awakening and self-discovery, encountering a universe of frustration, eroticism, and adventure within his sleepy backwater depot.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
90% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Oscar: Best International Feature Film.
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 31K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jiří Menzel
- Václav NeckářTrainee Milos Hrma
- Jitka ScoffinConducteress Masa
- Vladimír ValentaStationmaster Max
- Libuše HavelkováMax's wife
- Josef SomrTrain dispatcher Hubicka
- Alois VachekNovak
- Jitka ZelenohorskáZdenka
- Vlastimil BrodskýCounselor Zednicek
- Ferdinand KrůtaMasa's Uncle Noneman
- Květa FialováThe countess