Ostre sledované vlaky(Closely Watched Trains)
(a.k.a. "Closely Observed Trains" -- UK)
Czechoslovakia (1966): Comedy/Drama
Czech director Jirí Menzel's international celebrity was assured thanks to this, his second, film. Václav Neckár plays a Czech railroad worker during the Nazi occupation. He undergoes several philosophical changes as he becomes attracted to the Czech underground. Determining at last that his own existence hardly matters in the scheme of things, Neckar volunteers for a suicide mission. Ordered by the Czech Communist government to return his Oscar, Menzel refused, opting instead to make a "repentance" film which sang the praises of collectivism. This second film has long since been forgotten, while Closely Watched Trains remains on record as one of the biggest financial successes of the Eastern European Cinema. (Barrandov/Sigma III) (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)
1 nomination, 1 Award
· Best Foreign Language Film 1967: (Czechoslovakia) (Zdenek Oves, producer.)