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Jiří Menzel

Jiří Menzel

Actor, director and writer · Died September 5, 2020, aged 82 · Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]

Jiří Menzel (Czech: [ˈjɪr̝iː ˈmɛntsl̩] was a Czech film director, theatre director, actor, and screenwriter. His films often combine a humanistic view of the world with sarcasm and provocative cinematography. Some of these films are adapted from works by Czech writers such as Bohumil Hrabal and Vladislav Vančura. Menzel, a member of the Czech New Wave, became internationally famous in 1967, when his first feature film, Closely Watched Trains, won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. His controversial film Larks on a String was filmed in 1969, but was initially banned by the Czechoslovakian government. It was finally released in 1990 after the fall of the Communist regime. The film won the Golden Bear at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival. Menzel was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film again in 1986 with his dark comedy My Sweet Little Village. In 1987, he was a member of the jury at the 37th Berlin International Film Festival. In 1989 he was a member of the jury at the 16th Moscow International Film Festival. In 1995 he was a member of the jury at the 19th Moscow International Film Festival. He would be conferred with IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award in November 2013.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 23, 1938
Died
September 5, 2020 (aged 82)
From
Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]
Works as
Actor, director and writer
Titles
13 on Motif · 100 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 2% in 30 days

What are Jiří Menzel's films like?

Across their 9 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Power.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
35%
Power
21%
Bonds
20%
Morality
9%
Survival
7%
Ideas
4%
Society
4%
Aging2 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 7 · Charged 2 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 3 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
4
Contemplative
5
Absurd
3
Melancholic
4
Bittersweet
2
Other
5

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jiří Menzel's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 13 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (4).

Subscription and free streaming for Jiří Menzel's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

100 credits, 13 with a Motif page; 14 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Brouk v hlavě (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    Stage Director

  • The Interpreter(2018)

    as Ali Ungár

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Milan Čorba (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • The Don Juans (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Writer

  • Signál (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)

    as Prokeš

  • Jiří Menzel: 7 Questions (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · as Self

  • Vyprávěj (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Professor Sládeček

  • Operation Dunaj (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    Supervising Art Director · as Oskar Hazuka

  • Setkání v Praze, s vraždou (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    as Hořejší

  • Teddy Bear (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Romanuv otec

  • I Served the King of England(2006)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Slnko v sieti (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A bárány utolsó megkísértése (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    as Leopold Blum

  • Zimní víla (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    as Komorí

  • The Sunken Cemetery (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as Doktor Javorski

  • Útek do Budína (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    as hrabě

  • Ten Minutes Older: The Cello(2002)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • One Moment (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • As Rita Hayworth's Grandfather Loved (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Pfarrer

  • All My Loved Ones (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Stein

  • Pražský písničkář (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • Hospoda (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 52 episodes · as MUDr. Prášek - psychiatr

  • Franciska vasárnapjai (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as államtitkár

  • Draculův švagr (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Vengeance Is Mine (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Director

  • Too Loud A Solitude (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Professor

  • How to Deserve a Princess (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as dvorní malíř

  • Joint Venture (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Prof. Adamec

  • Zivot a neobycejna dobrodruzstvi vojaka Ivana Conkina(1994)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Helimadoe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Dramaturgy

  • Everything I Like (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Vasek

  • The Little Apocalypse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Stan

  • Dr. Hrabal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • The Beggar's Opera (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · Adaptation · Creative Producer · Screenplay

  • The Elementary School(1991)

    as Gynecologist MUDr. Kalaban

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Martha and I (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Doctor Benda

  • The Gentle Barbarian (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Doktor

  • Strange Creatures (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • The End of Old Times (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Larks on a String(1969)

    Director · Screenplay · as Convict

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Audience (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Zvonokosy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Vincek

  • Stvoření světa (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Run, He Is Coming! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Dámská jízda (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Die Schokoladenschnüffler (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • My Sweet Little Village(1985)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Albert (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    as Dustojník

  • The Snowdrop Festival (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Fandy ó Fandy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Hearty Greetings from the Globe (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Dr. Jánský

  • Švédská zápalka (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Passing Fancy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Ferat Vampire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Dr. Marek

  • Babička se zbláznila (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • Tři v tom (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Director

  • Bulldogs and Cherries (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    as Waiter

  • Heart Tremors (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Cutting It Short (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Povídka Malostranská (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    as Dr. Krumlovský

  • Hra na telo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • Koportos (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    as A pap

  • Blue Planet (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    as Štěpán Pavlík

  • Those Wonderful Movie Cranks (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Director · Screenplay · Actor

  • Minden szerdán(1979)

    as János - államtitkár

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Apple Game (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as MUDr. Josef John

  • 30 Maidens and Pythagoras (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    as profesor matematiky Ludolf

  • Secluded, Near Woods (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Director

  • Who Looks for Gold? (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Sechse kommen durch die Welt (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    as Soldat

  • Slamený klobouk(1972)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Mandragora (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Director · Stage Director

  • Nevěsta (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • The Cremator(1969)

    as Dvorak

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Crime in the Night Club (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Director · Screenplay · as Klaun

  • Capricious Summer(1968)

    Director · Screenplay · as Arnoštek

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Dita Saxová (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as Herbert Lagus

  • Windstorm (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Hotel for Strangers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    as Pot-boy

  • The Return of the Prodigal Son (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    as Jirí

  • Daisies(1966)

    as Jan (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Flám (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Closely Watched Trains(1966)

    Director · Screenplay · as Dr. Brabec

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Martin Speaking (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Volejte Martina (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Searching (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Crime at the Girls School (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Nobody Will Laugh (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Pearls of the Deep (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Director · Screenplay · as Cyclist (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara")

  • Pension pro svobodné pány (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • If a Thousand Clarinets (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    as Schulze

  • Courage for Every Day (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    as Jarduv kolega

  • Hory hory (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • A Place in the Crowd (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    as (segment "Jak se kalí ocel")

  • Defendant (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    as obhájce Frantisek Horácek

  • Dobrá rada je nad zlato (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Something Different (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    First Assistant Director

  • Our Dear Mr. Foerster Died (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Ceiling (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Blocks of Flats (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Director · Screenplay

Career shape

Star power in the 86th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 100 titles from 1960 to 2020; peak year 1966.

Biggest box office

I Served the King of England (2006)

$7.4M worldwide

Highest rated

My Sweet Little Village (1985)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Closely Watched Trains (1966)

Film career

19602020

Peak 1966 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1966Screen debut· Pearls of the Deep
  • 1982First top-billed film· Ferat Vampire
  • 1982Career best· Ferat Vampire

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting77 of 100: 70 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score87thDirecting26 of 100: 8 only directing, 18 with another role · typical Midcredits score87thWriting17 of 100: 0 only writing, 17 with another role · typical Midcredits score87thOther crew5 of 100: 3 only other crew, 2 with another role

100 titles, 19 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 6 of them.

By decade

1960s27 · 23 acting · 8 crew1970s10 · 7 acting · 4 crew1980s21 · 16 acting · 5 crew1990s23 · 18 acting · 6 crew2000s13 · 10 acting · 4 crew2010s5 · 3 acting · 2 crew2020s1 · crew

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 14% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Jiří Menzel's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 87th percentile, the median of all 13; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 83rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

83rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 13 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th5

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 13 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · actor

Minden szerdán (1979)

93rd percentile spread · 30% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Cremator (1969)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Jiří Menzel work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jiří Menzel's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jaromír Šofr shares the most, 6.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers