Directed by:
Jiří MenzelScreenplay:
Jiří MenzelCinematography:
Jaromír ŠofrComposer:
Aleš BřezinaCast:
Ivan Barnev, Oldřich Kaiser, Julia Jentsch, Zuzana Fialová, Milan Lasica, Marian Labuda, Martin Huba, Josef Abrhám, Jiří Lábus, Jaromír Dulava, István Szabó (more)Plots(1)
Bohumil Hrabal's book I Served the King of England is among the pinnacles of his body of work. Mirrored in the fate of a young Czech waiter's life are the hopes, conflicts, dramas, and defeats of Czechoslovak history in the last century. Based on that book, director Jiří Menzel presents a film about a man in the twilight of his life seeking images of the era he has lived through. About a man who yearned to fill his life with wealth and beauty no matter what the circumstances, a man whose luck always lay in his encountering some misfortune. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Ivan Barnev
Bulgaria
Best movies:
Blaga's Lessons (2023)
Rounds (2019)
Directions (2017)
Oldřich Kaiser
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
U Tlučhořů (2010) (theatrical recording)
Rozčarovaní (1982) (TV movie)
Přišel na večeři (1981) (theatrical recording)
Julia Jentsch
West Germany
Best movies:
Downfall (2004)
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005)
The Hippocratic Silence (2022)
Zuzana Fialová
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Autumn Spring (2001)
Aftermath (2012)
Rules of Lies (2006)
Milan Lasica
Slovak state
Best movies:
Lasica & Satinský a hostia: Soirée (1968) (TV movie)
Půldruhé hodiny zpoždění (2009) (theatrical recording)
The Three Veterans (1983)
Marian Labuda
Slovak state
Best movies:
My Sweet Little Village (1985)
All My Loved Ones (1999)
Raz, dva, tri (1985) (TV movie)
Martin Huba
Slovak state
Best movies:
Burning Bush (2013) (TV movie)
Divided We Fall (2000)
Adolf Eichmann (1988) (TV movie)
Josef Abrhám
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
Revizor (1971) (theatrical recording)
Hráči (1983) (theatrical recording)
Jiří Lábus
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Major Case Squad (2014) (series)
U Tlučhořů (2010) (theatrical recording)
Joachim, Put It in the Machine (1974)
Jaromír Dulava
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Czech Soda (1998)
Dámský krejčí (2012) (theatrical recording)
The Black Barons (1992)
István Szabó
Kingdom of Hungary
Best movies:
Mephisto (1981)
Taking Sides (2001)
I Served the King of England (2006)
Pavel Nový
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Amadeus (1984)
Hřbitov pro cizince (1991) (TV movie)
I Enjoy the World with You (1982)
Zdeněk Žák
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Merlin aneb Pustá zem (1988) (theatrical recording)
Návštěva z vesmíru (1977) (TV movie)
Šťastlivec Sulla (1991) (TV movie)
Rudolf Hrušínský ml.
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Elementary School (1991)
My Sweet Little Village (1985)
Hráči (1983) (theatrical recording)
Petr Čtvrtníček
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Czech Soda (1998)
Smoke (1990)
Anděl Páně 2 (2016)
Jiří Šesták
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Tři mušketýři (2002) (theatrical recording)
Innocence (2011)
Jak se vám líbí (2012) (theatrical recording)
Pavel Vondruška
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Conquest of the North Pole (1987) (theatrical recording)
Blaník (1997) (theatrical recording)
Hamlet (1986) (theatrical recording)
Petr Brukner
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
Dobytí severního pólu (2006) (theatrical recording)
Záskok (1997) (theatrical recording)
The Conquest of the North Pole (1987) (theatrical recording)
Jaroslav Tomsa
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
My Sweet Little Village (1985)
Jára Cimrman Lying, Sleeping (1983)
Lemonade Joe (1964)
Oldřich Vlach
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
Periferie (2017) (theatrical recording)
The Elementary School (1991)
My Sweet Little Village (1985)