Synopsis

Josef Svejk works as a dog catcher in Prague. One day, he goes to his favourite pub and starts philosophising outspokenly with a stranger about the assassination in Sarajevo of the Austrian heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand. To his misfortune, the guy he is talking to turns out to work for the secret police, so poor Svejk promptly gets arrested for violating majesty and disruptive behaviour. This is, however, only the beginning of a series of mishaps, which land our impish protagonist not only in jail, but also in a mental institution, and later on even in the trenches of World War I. It can be safely said that he does not miss an opportunity to put himself in danger and discomfort. But wherever he puts his feet, he always finds a way to get out. Be it debating with lawyers, doctors, officers, priests or other soldiers in the midst of the war’s madness, with his shrewdness and instinct, Svejk manages to save himself right on time, over and over again. Karel Steklý’s film version of Jaroslav Hašek’s anti-militarist and deeply amusing classic novel from 1923 is considered by many as the best screen adaption, not least because of its authenticity and closeness to the original text. This year’s LET’S CEE Film Festival will present the world premiere of the new digitally-restored version.