January 20, 1969
The N. C. Essay
Page 2
Czech Film Is Sensitive Drama
by Anthony N. Fragola
"Closely Watched Trains" is a
sensitive portrayal of a young ap
prentice named Milos who finds that
he cannot fulfill the sexual demands
of manhood.
Director Jiri Menzel treats his
subject with a mixture of whimsey
and pathos. For example, the aud
ience is led to assume that Milos'
character has been strangely shaped
by a long line of weird ancestors,
including a grandfather who tried to
stop the German onslaught into Cze-
choslavakia by utilizing his hypno
tic powers over the advancing ranks.
(He almost succeeded.) However, Mi
los’ problem with his girlfriend is
real and agonizing. Humiliated,
fearful of being impotent, Milos at
tempts suicide.
The strength of "Closely Watch
ed Trains" lies in the way earthli-
ness and reality are subtly blended
with a sense of humor. Jiri Menzel
shows that he can laugh as well as
cry at the human condition.
NORTH •'V
CAROLINA^
iCHOOL
Of
tm;;
ARTS
The N. C. ESSAY
STAFF
NCSA
Editor Tony SenteT
Co-editor Lynn Bernhardt
Feature Writers David Wood
Mark Walsh
Dance Editor. . . . Sandra Witt'tams
Political Dennis Williamson
Typists Harold Ingram
Caj(‘ol MoCurdy
Carol Johnson
Pat Yanaey
Proofreader Beaky Troxler
Business Manager. . . . Tess Morton
Advertising Manager . Polly Croaker
Layout Tony Senter
Advisor Anthony Fragola
Art Loma Frady
Vac lay Neckar plays Milos so
masterfully - shy, gawky, patheti
cally self-conscious - that one
could never guess that he is a rock'
n roll star, a national celebrity in
his own country.
It is through Milos' friendship
with the experienced Dispatcher Hu-
bricka that Milos finally becomes
confident, since Hubricka provides
Milos with a beautiful blond resis
tance fighter who has the experience
to solve Milos' dilemma.
Perhaps the greatest flaw of
the script comes when Milos helps
Dispatcher Hubricka blow up an ammu
nition train. Until this point, the
movie is a touching comedy, the only
tragedy exists in Milos' excruciat
ing self-consciousness. The sense
less tragedy which follows seems un
necessary and out of context with
the rest of the movie.
This conclusion can only make
sense when viewed within Marxian
thought, and despite Czechoslavakias'
resistance against the Russians, it
is still Marxist oriented in philos
ophy.
Within this framework, Milos'
impotency can be seen as a result of
his lack of social commitment: he
has no part in the resistance and he
WELCOME TO
The Wagon Wheel
Restaurant
418 Waughtown St.
10 A.M. - Midnight
has taken the job as dispatcher be
cause it promises to be an idle occu
pation. Only within a Marxist phil
osophy does the history of his an
cestors have any important relevance
to the file. One died fighting the
i?esistance, the other was beaten to
death by workman who he tauned and
mocked as they worked. His father,
though retired and envied, lives a
barren, bored existence. The high
point of his day comes when he can
check the time schedule of tie pass
ing trains. Again the Marxist in
sistence on the importance of work
is evident. Milos is a product of
all these men - he is at first an
idler, later joins the resistance,
and like his father, goes to work
for the railroad.
Significantly, Milos' impotency
disappears only after he actively
commits himself to the resistance.
His flagging self-image is strength
ened; his life has taken on meaning.
Now Milos can move into the realm of
virule manhood. Yet even within
this context, the tragedy which be
falls Milos is pointless.
For an American, however, who
is not steeped in Marxist theory,
the movie may lack unity and be slow
in pace.
Nevertheless, for the viewer
who is sensitive enough to see a
touching drama unfold in the eyes,
on the face, and in the awkward at
tempts of Milos to resolve his pro
blem, "Closely Watched Trains" is a
meaningful film.
^^amar
I
Arts
Crafts
Finishes
THRUWAY SHOPPING CENTER LOWER MALL
mop
AMP
mw-
m\\^'
TO 60,
mi
JCK! AWPHOO/
AReWTht^
a?
VTAW,
AMP HOJO
((VU
UOUR. pIaws
m rmv,
pick:?
/
MAKf A FBU)
SpgECH, POT
UP A C00PL6
OF book
SH5LV6S-
^smives
mie
(1
MC6h.
ABF
TAeie.
/
sm
CO, HIT m
m
70 6'tr A
Feucu) OP
FOR im
R^STOF
MP/Vy'.
I