The Black Barons

A classic book adapted to the screen with rarely seen precision and perfection. The brilliant performances dominate a story from the ranks of the Czech People's Army that doesn’t spare apt humour and perfectly lightens the then hated socialist regime. (08/31/2012)

Very decent cast, professional direction, production and distribution. If I remember correctly, it was the first privately filmed movie in our country - and of course, choosing the subject was a safe bet. The book of the same name by Miroslav Švandrlík was a cult matter in our conditions, which could not be unsuccessful on the screen while maintaining at least an average level. There is no such amateurism and clumsiness of later Czech commerce in the film. It's not a great movie-making, but a honestly filmed popular comedy. The only ones who protested then were the veterans of "Pete-Pak", who had already criticized Švandrlík for idealizing the subject in the past. Overall impression is 75%. (11/30/2007)

I like The Black Barons. They may not have much in common with the atmosphere of the 1950s, but it is a satirical, idyllic film, and that is also how it should be perceived. It's a film literally shrouded in period pathos, which Švandrlík obviously handles masterfully, and it's a film full of excellent actors and non-actors and a great summary of sketches and truly picturesque characters from the period panopticon. Everything is done with ease, naturalness and believability. A good comedy. (04/20/2006)

A cult film that I have watched only today. It's a bit of a shame, but I have really been avoiding Czech films a lot. The film has excellent lines that have become popular. The perspective on the war, what it was and what it wasn't back then, is simply excellent. Why not watch it with a sense of humor? Sometimes I should read the book "The Black Barons". I think I would enjoy it even more, but the acting performances here are absolutely excellent in all cases. (01/07/2014)