Director

Jiří Menzel

1938 – 2020

Who they are

Born: 23 February 1938, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]
Died: 5 September 2020
Known for: Closely Watched Trains, Capricious Summer, Larks on a String

Jiří Menzel (1938–2020) was a Czech director, actor and theatre director associated with the Czech New Wave. He is best known for adaptations of Bohumil Hrabal, which blend humane warmth with irony. His debut, Closely Watched Trains, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

Where to start

Closely Watched Trains (1966)Full guide
His debut feature, a Hrabal adaptation that won the Oscar and made him internationally famous.
Capricious Summer (1968)Log in to add it to the library
A gentle, wry comedy based on Vladislav Vančura, showing his humanistic style.
Larks on a String (1990)In the library
Banned after its 1969 production, it was released after communism fell and won the Berlin Golden Bear.
My Sweet Little Village (1985)Log in to add it to the library
A dark village comedy that earned him a second Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
I Served the King of England (2007)Log in to add it to the library
A late-career Hrabal adaptation that returned him to the themes of his early work.

Their films in the library

Awards

1967: Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (Closely Watched Trains)
1986: Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film (My Sweet Little Village)
1990: Golden Bear, Berlin International Film Festival (Larks on a String)
2013: IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award

The full list · 101

1960Blocks of FlatsLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1962CeilingLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1963Our Dear Mr. Foerster DiedLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1964DefendantLog in to add it to the libraryActor as obhájce Frantisek Horácek
1964A Place in the CrowdLog in to add it to the libraryActor as (segment "Jak se kalí ocel")
1964Dobrá rada je nad zlatoLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1964Hory horyLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1965If a Thousand ClarinetsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Schulze
1965Courage for Every DayLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Jarduv kolega
1965Pension pro svobodné pányLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1966DaisiesLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Jan (voice)
1966Closely Watched TrainsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Dr. Brabec · Director
1966Pearls of the DeepLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Cyclist (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara") · Director
1966SearchingLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1966Crime at the Girls SchoolLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1966Nobody Will LaughLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1966Volejte MartinaLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1966FlámLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1966Martin SpeakingLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1966An Occasion to SpeakLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
1967The Return of the Prodigal SonLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Jirí
1967Hotel for StrangersLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Pot-boy
1967WindstormLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1968Capricious SummerLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Arnoštek · Director
1968Dita SaxováLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Herbert Lagus
1968Crime in the Night ClubLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Klaun · Director
1969The CrematorLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Dvorak
1970NevěstaLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1971MandragoraLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1972Straw HatLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1972Sechse kommen durch die WeltLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Soldat
1974Who Looks for Gold?Log in to add it to the libraryDirector
1976Secluded, Near WoodsLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
197730 Maidens and PythagorasLog in to add it to the libraryActor as profesor matematiky Ludolf
1978The Apple GameLog in to add it to the libraryActor as MUDr. Josef John
1979Those Wonderful Movie CranksLog in to add it to the libraryActor · Director
1979Minden szerdánLog in to add it to the libraryActor as János - államtitkár
1980Blue PlanetLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Štěpán Pavlík
1980KoportosLog in to add it to the libraryActor as A pap
1980Hra na teloLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1981Cutting It ShortLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1981Bulldogs and CherriesLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Waiter
1981Heart TremorsLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1981Povídka MalostranskáLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Dr. Krumlovský
1981Tři v tomLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1982Ferat VampireLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Dr. Marek
1982Babička se zbláznilaLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1983Hearty Greetings from the GlobeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Dr. Jánský
1983Fandy ó FandyLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1983Švédská zápalkaLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1983Passing FancyLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1984The Snowdrop FestivalLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1985My Sweet Little VillageLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1985AlbertLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Dustojník
1986Die SchokoladenschnüfflerLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1987Run, He Is Coming!Log in to add it to the libraryActor
1987Dámská jízdaLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1989Stvoření světaLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1990Larks on a StringLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Convict · Director
1990The End of Old TimesLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1990The Gentle BarbarianLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Doktor
1990Martha and ILog in to add it to the libraryActor as Doctor Benda
1990AudienceLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1990Strange CreaturesLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1990ZvonokosyLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Vincek
1991The Elementary SchoolLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Gynecologist MUDr. Kalaban
1991The Beggar's OperaLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1991Tady vím, proč jsemLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
1993The Little ApocalypseLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Stan
1993Everything I LikeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Vasek
1993Dr. HrabalLog in to add it to the libraryActor
1994The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan ChonkinLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1995How to Deserve a PrincessLog in to add it to the libraryActor as dvorní malíř
1995Joint VentureLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Prof. Adamec
1995Vengeance Is MineLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Director
1995Too Loud A SolitudeLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Professor
1996Franciska vasárnapjaiLog in to add it to the libraryActor as államtitkár
1999All My Loved OnesLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Stein
2001As Rita Hayworth's Grandfather LovedLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Pfarrer
2002Ten Minutes Older: The CelloLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2002Útek do BudínaLog in to add it to the libraryActor as hrabě
2002The Sunken CemeteryLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Doktor Javorski
2002One MomentLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2004DaddyLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2005Pocta V+WLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2006Zimní vílaLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Komorí
2006A bárány utolsó megkísértéseLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Leopold Blum
2007I Served the King of EnglandLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2007Teddy BearLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Romanuv otec
2009Operation DunajLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Oskar Hazuka
2009Setkání v Praze, s vraždouLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Hořejší
2011Jiří Menzel: 7 QuestionsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self · Director
2012SignálLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Prokeš
2012The Presence of Arnošt LustigLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2013The Don JuansLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2014Milan ČorbaLog in to add it to the libraryActor
2014Bohumil Hrabal „Takže se stalo, že...“Log in to add it to the libraryActor as self
2016The Wolf from Royal Vineyard StreetLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2016To Make a Comedy Is No FunLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2018The InterpreterLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Ali Ungár
2018CzechMate: In Search of Jiří MenzelLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self

Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.