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
![Jiří Knot](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/274/274932_e16ce5.jpg)
Jiří Knot
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Waiter, Scarper! (1980)
Forbidden Dreams (1986)
Dissolved and Effused (1984)
![Naďa Konvalinková](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268386_7600a2.jpg)
Naďa Konvalinková
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Give the Devil His Due (1984)
Adela Has Not Had Her Supper Yet (1978)
Noc pastýřů (1993) (TV movie)
![Ladislav Županič](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/271/271437_f84cea.jpg)
Ladislav Županič
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia
Best movies:
My Sweet Little Village (1985)
The Mystery of the Carpathian Castle (1981)
Šťastlivec Sulla (1991) (TV movie)
![Tonya Graves](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/923/163923599_ee6d12.jpg)
Tonya Graves
USA
Best movies:
Jesus Christ Superstar (2005) (theatrical recording)
Forever Král: Koncertní pocta Ivanu Královi (2021) (concert)
Rytmus v patách (2009) (TV movie)
![Václav Knop](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/276/276324_738dda.jpg)
Václav Knop
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Cutting It Short (1980)
Lokis (1986) (TV movie)
Lekár umierajúceho času (1983) (series)
![Milan Enčev](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/276/276625_3dc435.jpg)
Milan Enčev
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Nineties (2022) (series)
Burning Bush (2013) (TV movie)
The Defender (2021) (series)
![Kristýna Boková](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/857/164857460_739abc.png)
Kristýna Boková
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Identity Card (2010)
Toman (2018)
Justice (2017) (series)
![Emília Vášáryová](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/849/164849929_e0bd94.jpg)
Emília Vášáryová
Best movies:
Cosy Dens (1999)
Na skle maľované (1980) (TV movie)
The Copper Tower (1970)
![Jan Klusák](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/277/277830_cd8d3f.jpg)
Jan Klusák
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Party and the Guests (1966)
Daisies (1966)
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970)
Jiří Žák
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Hašler... (2017) (theatrical recording)
Višňový sad (2010) (theatrical recording)
I Served the King of England (2006)
![Rudolf Jelínek](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268742_6cbe9e.jpg)
Rudolf Jelínek
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Cyrano z Bergeracu (1986) (theatrical recording)
Král Lear (2003) (theatrical recording)
Král Krysa (1979) (theatrical recording)
![Petr Herrmann](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/382/160382088_eb4b99.jpg)
Petr Herrmann
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Journey to the Beginning of Time (1955)
The House in Karp Lane (1965)
Bankovní dům Daubner (1988) (TV movie)
![František Řehák](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268166_595094.jpg)
František Řehák
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Secluded, Near Woods (1976)
Invention for Destruction (1958)
The Snowdrop Festival (1983)
![Václav Chalupa](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/268/268232_41ed43.jpg)
Václav Chalupa
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Elementary School (1991)
Les Misérables (1998)
Lost Gate (2012) (series)
Vlastimil Brabec
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
I Served the King of England (2006)
Městečko (2003)
![Zdeněk Maryška](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/461/164461781_3b350b.png)
Zdeněk Maryška
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Cops and Robbers (2001) (series)
Swingtime (2007) (TV movie)
Zbojník (2023)
![Martin Zahálka](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/167/296/167296043_31cbb4.jpg)
Martin Zahálka
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Gazdina roba (1992) (theatrical recording)
Muž v pozadí (1995) (series)
Brouk v hlavě (2020) (theatrical recording)
![Barbora Mottlová](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/654/158654243_2d8dd7.jpg)
Barbora Mottlová
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Gangster Ka (2015)
Gangster Ka: African (2015)
Cook Up a Storm (2017)
![Jana Podlipná](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/294/159294768_45b39d.jpg)
Jana Podlipná
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
Faust (2011)
I Served the King of England (2006)
Der Zürich-Krimi (2016) (series)
![Milan Šimáček](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/030/162030858_901d31.jpg)
Milan Šimáček
Czechoslovakia
Best movies:
The Black Barons (1992)
The Last Butterfly (1990)
Blázni a děvčátka (1989)