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The Good Soldier Švejk

1957Movie1 h 48 min

Comedy
74
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4

A quirky, nostalgic comedy movie about history and society, with standout performances and dialogue.

Good for family movie night · friends night · party vibe

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Not for scares.

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Story

Good-natured and garrulous, Schweik becomes the Austrian army's most loyal Czech soldier when he is called up on the outbreak of World War I -- although his bumbling attempts to get to the front serve only to prevent him from reaching it. Playing cards and getting drunk, he uses all his cunning and genial subterfuge to deal with the police, clergy, and officers who chivy him toward battle.

Feels like

  • Absurdist War Satire
  • Czech Cultural Icon
  • Bumbling Anti-Hero
  • Dark Comedy of Bureaucracy
  • WWI Historical Setting
  • Genial Subterfuge
  • Social Commentary on Authority
  • Episodic Narrative
  • Nostalgic Classic Cinema
  • Irony and Futility

Cast

24 of 25

Crew

Directed by
Karel Steklý
Written by
Jaroslav Hašek, Karel Steklý
Produced by
Václav Dobeš, Josef Beran
Music by
Jan Seidel

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 23, 1957 · 1 h 48 min · Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use

Released
August 23, 1957
Runtime
1 h 48 min
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use
Genres
Comedy, War
Original language
Czech
Made in
XC
Available in
4 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Good Soldier Švejk?"

Questions about The Good Soldier Švejk

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Good Soldier Švejk?

Klassiki

In the United States, The Good Soldier Švejk streams on Klassiki. It also streams in 3 other countries.

Is The Good Soldier Švejk worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 74 (IMDb 7.4).

Is there a sequel to The Good Soldier Švejk?

  1. The Good Soldier Švejk (1957)
  2. I Dutifully Report (1958)

Yes: it's movie 1 of 2 in its series, followed by I Dutifully Report (1958).

Is The Good Soldier Švejk okay for kids?

ViolenceStrong languageDrug use

Yes: its content advisories are violence, strong language, and drug use, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will The Good Soldier Švejk make me laugh?

Very funny

Yes, a lot: the humor is mostly satire (10 of 10) and situational comedy (9 of 10).

Is The Good Soldier Švejk plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (9 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is The Good Soldier Švejk in English?

Czech

No, it was made in Czech.