Directed by:
Jiří MenzelScreenplay:
Jiří MenzelCinematography:
Jaromír ŠofrComposer:
Aleš BřezinaCast:
Ivan Barnev, Oldřich Kaiser, Julia Jentsch, Zuzana Fialová, Milan Lasica, Marian Labuda, Martin Huba, Josef Abrhám, Jiří Lábus, Jaromír Dulava, István Szabó (more)Plots(1)
Bohumil Hrabal's book I Served the King of England is among the pinnacles of his body of work. Mirrored in the fate of a young Czech waiter's life are the hopes, conflicts, dramas, and defeats of Czechoslovak history in the last century. Based on that book, director Jiří Menzel presents a film about a man in the twilight of his life seeking images of the era he has lived through. About a man who yearned to fill his life with wealth and beauty no matter what the circumstances, a man whose luck always lay in his encountering some misfortune. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Ivan Barnev](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/407/407737_5813f1.jpg)
Ivan Barnev
Bulgaria
Best movies:
Blaga's Lessons (2023)
Rounds (2019)
Directions (2017)
![Oldřich Kaiser](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/971/163971357_4a2abb.png)
Oldřich Kaiser
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
U Tlučhořů (2010) (theatrical recording)
Rozčarovaní (1982) (TV movie)
Přišel na večeři (1981) (theatrical recording)
![Julia Jentsch](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/167/401/167401290_d0e4d1.jpg)
Julia Jentsch
West Germany
Best movies:
Downfall (2004)
Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005)
24 Weeks (2016)
![Zuzana Fialová](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268314_9fdff3.jpg)
Zuzana Fialová
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Autumn Spring (2001)
Aftermath (2012)
Rules of Lies (2006)
![Milan Lasica](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268172_01e38f.jpg)
Milan Lasica
Slovak state
Best movies:
Lasica & Satinský a hostia: Soirée (1968) (TV movie)
Půldruhé hodiny zpoždění (2009) (theatrical recording)
The Three Veterans (1983)
![Marian Labuda](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268178_89aa5d.jpg)
Marian Labuda
Slovak state
Best movies:
My Sweet Little Village (1985)
All My Loved Ones (1999)
Raz, dva, tri (1985) (TV movie)
![Martin Huba](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/165/060/165060282_0f1300.png)
Martin Huba
Slovak state
Best movies:
Burning Bush (2013) (TV movie)
Divided We Fall (2000)
Adolf Eichmann (1988) (TV movie)
![Josef Abrhám](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/323/166323293_f95e62.jpg)
Josef Abrhám
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
Marecek, Pass Me the Pen! (1976)
Revizor (1971) (theatrical recording)
Hráči (1983) (theatrical recording)
![Jiří Lábus](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/281/164281474_2f1844.jpg)
Jiří Lábus
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Major Case Squad (2014) (series)
U Tlučhořů (2010) (theatrical recording)
Joachim, Put It in the Machine (1974)
![Jaromír Dulava](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/484/159484801_b8b594.jpg)
Jaromír Dulava
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Czech Soda (1998)
Dámský krejčí (2012) (theatrical recording)
The Black Barons (1992)
![István Szabó](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270057_fc38af.jpg)
István Szabó
Kingdom of Hungary
Best movies:
Mephisto (1981)
Taking Sides (2001)
I Served the King of England (2006)
![Pavel Nový](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/542/161542201_fc7210.jpg)
Pavel Nový
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Amadeus (1984)
Hřbitov pro cizince (1991) (TV movie)
I Enjoy the World with You (1982)
![Zdeněk Žák](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/310/164310910_116e15.jpg)
Zdeněk Žák
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Merlin aneb Pustá zem (1988) (theatrical recording)
Návštěva z vesmíru (1977) (TV movie)
Šťastlivec Sulla (1991) (TV movie)
![Rudolf Hrušínský ml.](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/294/164294183_9cba95.jpg)
Rudolf Hrušínský ml.
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Elementary School (1991)
My Sweet Little Village (1985)
Hráči (1983) (theatrical recording)
![Petr Čtvrtníček](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268738_ecf37f.jpg)
Petr Čtvrtníček
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Czech Soda (1998)
Smoke (1990)
Angel of the Lord 2 (2016)
![Jiří Šesták](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/765/157765177_ac8425.jpg)
Jiří Šesták
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Tři mušketýři (2002) (theatrical recording)
Innocence (2011)
Jak se vám líbí (2012) (theatrical recording)
![Pavel Vondruška](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268786_9a305e.jpg)
Pavel Vondruška
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Conquest of the North Pole (1987) (theatrical recording)
Blaník (1997) (theatrical recording)
Hamlet (1986) (theatrical recording)
![Petr Brukner](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268711_f8245f.jpg)
Petr Brukner
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
Dobytí severního pólu (2006) (theatrical recording)
Záskok (1997) (theatrical recording)
The Conquest of the North Pole (1987) (theatrical recording)
![Jaroslav Tomsa](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/414/414847_64d47a.jpg)
Jaroslav Tomsa
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
My Sweet Little Village (1985)
Jára Cimrman Lying, Sleeping (1983)
Lemonade Joe (1964)
![Oldřich Vlach](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/294/164294258_8f2f7e.jpg)
Oldřich Vlach
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
Periferie (2017) (theatrical recording)
The Elementary School (1991)
My Sweet Little Village (1985)