U nás v Kocourkově: Why this old Czech comedy still hits

If you've got a free afternoon and don't mind black-and-white subtitles, you should definitely give this one a look. It is perfect for anyone who likes seeing stuck-up officials get made fun of. If you hate old-fashioned pacing or slapstick that takes a minute to get going, you might want to skip it though.

I watched this last night on a whim and honestly? It’s kind of a riot. The whole premise is based on the legendary town of Kocourkov, which in Czech folklore is basically a place where everyone is a complete moron. They try to catch light in bags to bring it indoors and stuff like that.

The movie starts with Ferdinand Kaplan, played by the legendary Jan Werich, hopping off a train. He's actually an escaped convict, but the town is expecting some big-shot hero. The way everyone just assumes he's the guy because he looks somewhat confident is painfully funny. It reminded me a bit of the misunderstandings in The Sleuth, though much more chaotic.

Werich is the best part of this, hands down. He has this face that looks like he’s always about to tell a joke that might get him arrested. He doesn't even try that hard to lie. He just lets the townspeople's own stupidity do the heavy lifting for him.

There is this one scene at the train station where the band is playing and everyone is cheering. Kaplan looks so confused for about three seconds before he just shrugs and starts acting like he owns the place. It’s a great bit of physical acting without being too over-the-top.

The Town of Idiots

The townspeople are played by a bunch of classic Czech actors who really lean into the silliness. They are so desperate for a leader that they’ll take anyone. It feels like a biting commentary on politics, even if it was made nearly a hundred years ago.

I loved the "Kocourkovští učitelé"—the teachers' choir. They show up and sing these ridiculous songs with so much unearned seriousnes. It made me laugh out loud because they’re so sincere about being totally useless.

The movie gets noticeably better once Kaplan becomes mayor. He starts suggesting things that are actually sensible, but the townspeople think he's a genius because they’ve never heard a logical thought before. It’s like watching a con man accidentally become a saint.

Some of the scenes go on a bit too long. There’s a bit with a ladder that felt like it lasted forever. I found myself checking my phone for a second, but then Werich would do something small with his eyes and I was back in. The man had gravity.

The visuals are pretty standard for 1934. Some of the outdoor shots look a bit washed out, and the sound is definitely crunchy in places. You can tell they didn't have a massive budget, but it doesn't really matter when the writing is this sharp.

It’s a bit like The Scarlet Lady in how it handles social standing, but with way more jokes about bumbling mayors. I kept thinking about how little has changed in how we treat "important" people today.

Small Details I Noticed

• The hats. Everyone is wearing these incredibly stiff hats that look like they'd hurt to wear.
• There is a reaction shot of a dog during one of the speeches that felt totally accidental but it’s the best part of the frame.
• The way Kaplan smokes his cigar makes him look way more noble than he actually is.
• The background extras in the pub scenes look like they were pulled right off the street.

One thing that felt weird was the ending. It sort of just... happens? Like they ran out of film or had to get to lunch. It’s a bit abrupt, but I guess that’s better than a movie that overstays its welcome by half an hour.

I also noticed a few weird jumps in the editing. One minute they are in a room, the next they are outside, and it feels like a scene might have been lost to time. Or maybe the editor just had a very long lunch break that day.

Is it a masterpiece? Probably not. But it’s got a lot of heart and the satire actually has teeth. It’s much better than some of the dry stuff from that era like White Shadows, which takes itself way too seriously.

If you want to see a movie where the hero is a total fake and the villains are just dumb, this is the one. It’s a nice reminder that sometimes the people in charge don't know any more than we do. Usually less, actually.

Anyway, go watch it for Werich. He's a treasure. Even when the plot wanders off into the woods, he keeps it grounded. Sort of.