Humor and Disinterest in the Czech War Effort Gregory Thomas College

The film Closely Watched Trains is characterized by its humor primarily at the expense of Milos, a young guard at a train station in Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia. The use of humor along with sexual experiences in the film provide insight into life in Czechoslovakia during WW2. The movie centers around the idea that the Czechs have little to no interest in the War, and were not making any sort of major contribution to the War on the side of the Axis powers. For example, early on in the movie a Nazi collaborator stops by the station to discuss military details and all the men at the station are focused on a bystanding woman’s cleavage. The close up of the woman's breasts coupled with a mid shot of the Czech man’s eyes intently staring at her instead of the battle plans humorously displays Czech disinterest in the War. The men are getting details on the biggest war in human history and they ignore this information because they are enthralled by the sexualized features of a woman. Furthermore, as the collaborator relays a series of systematic retreats this information goes seemingly unnoticed by the Czech men at the station. Despite being retreats, they are deemed “glorious,” “genius,” and “beautiful” to ironically display humor...