I Served The King of England (Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále) (2006)

I Served the King of England is a smart, sexy, fantasy-filled Czechoslovakian satire with a unique charm and wit. What is interesting is that despite being filled with sex and humor, this is a very quiet introspective film that wants us to do some of the work. This is not just a movie that demands our attention, but one that richly rewards it as well. There are many very quiet scenes that play like a classic silent film. All this makes the film seem rather unassuming making us even more amazed by the powerful emotions contained within. What this movie truly offers us is a fascinating and well observed commentary on human nature. About our striving for success, our sexual lusts and the part of us that only looks out for ourselves.

This movie is about a Czech man in the 1930’s named Jan (Ivan Barnev) who wants one thing out of life. He wants to be a millionaire (don’t we all). This desire in him takes precedence over all else, even politics. He works in various high class and expensive places to study those who are successful. The lifestyle he sees may be hollow, but the more he observes it the more he desires what they have. He is constantly working his way up the ladder by following these examples and sleeping with various women. However everything goes wrong when he marries a German woman (Julia Jentsch). After the Germans invade Czechoslovakia this makes him unpopular and ostracized.

This movie never praises nor condemns Jan the way a similar Hollywood movie might. Director,  Jirí Menzel creates a more morally ambiguous feel to the movie that makes it all the more fascinating. Even though Jan is not a traditionally likable character we see enough of ourselves in him to relate and maybe even be frightened by what we see. This also keeps the film from directly preaching to us. It gives us insights into the moral and political conflicts happening, but makes us come to our own conclusions about what we see. Rather than a political movie this plays like a very low key sex comedy. This gives it a deceptively light hearted and breezy feel to a movie with much deeper implications underneath.

This is not a movie to watch when you are emotional or easily distracted. You have to be completely absorbed in this movie for its subtle power and depth to truly reach you. Watch this in the right mood though and you will be in awe of what you see.    

-Michael J. Ruhland