i served the king of england

or in czech - obsluhoval jsem anglickeho krale
i'd seen the trailer which to me made it out to be quirky
a few reviews i had read were fairly lukewarm as well
i had a desire to see a film on this night and choice was limited
so the decision was made to take it on come what may
the film opens in the early 1960's outside a prison
jan dite is being released after a near 15-year sentence
sent away by the communists at the end of world war 2
1 year for each of the millions he had at the end of the war
having by then realised his dream of being a millionaire
we then travel back in time to prague in the 30's
jan is working as a frankfurter seller on prague railway station
his attitude to work and money does not go unnoticed
and before long he is working his way up in the hotel business
he's a small and solitary man lacking in skills but not confidence
his places of employment are of the highest class
so he is exposed to the opulence of the rich and comfortable
there is no holding back in the displays of this lifestyle
but done in such a stylish way without judgement
food, women, clothing, decor, decorum all beautifully filmed
music and choreography used to enhance the scenes
at times i felt i was witnessing live theatre
other times babettes feast came to mind
the second world war slowly works it's way in
with very effective use of actual radio transmissions
as hitler announces his intentions and czechoslovakia surrenders
so the director then gives us a gentle history lesson
not taking sides but effectively telling us as it was
the film cuts back several times to jan as an older man
now living a life of solitude in an abandoned village
and ruminating on his life that we are now familiar with
these scenes are in total contrast but just as beautifully filmed
cutting back to the war sees jan bid farewell to his wife
she being of german descent and off to join the war
leaving him to run his hotel now used as a fertility clinic
ayran soldiers mixing it with beautiful blonde women
in one of hitler's schemes to ensure the prospering of the master race
i cannot recall ever seeing such beautiful scenes of nudity
as the women frolick in the pool at the grand hotel
but only a few scenes later and the hotel is now a hospital
and we witness disfigured soldiers now enjoying the pool
the war eventually comes to the hotel with force
leading to the eventual incarceration of the now owner
the film wraps up with a simple and effective final scene
other patrons bolted for the door i gathered in dismay
leaving me alone in the theatre after the 2 hour journey
enjoying the last piece of classical music as the credits rolled
a reminder that all the music used was superb
another feature of this beautiful, beautiful film
overuse of that adjective really but...
easiest way to describe this film
one to own on dvd is my thinking
repeat playing totally feasible