The Joke (1969): cast, story & where to watch
1969 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1969, The Joke is a comedy and drama film directed by Jaromil Jireš, running about 77 minutes.
What it’s about. In the 1950s, Ludvik Jahn was expelled from the Communist Party and the University by his fellow students, because of a politically incorrect note he sent to his girlfriend. Fifteen years later, he tries to get his revenge by seducing Helena, the wife of one of his accusers.
Who’s in it. The Joke stars Josef Somr as Ludvik Jahn, Jana Dítětová as Helena Zemánková, Luděk Munzar as Pavel Zemánek and Evald Schorm as Kostka, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, The Joke has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel, DocAlliance Films and Klassiki. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Joke page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Joke tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Joke (1969)?
- In US, The Joke is available to stream on Criterion Channel, DocAlliance Films and Klassiki. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Joke worth watching?
- The Joke holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Joke?
- The Joke stars Josef Somr, Jana Dítětová, Luděk Munzar, Evald Schorm and Jaroslava Obermaierová.
- When was The Joke released?
- The Joke was released in 1969, with a runtime of about 77 minutes.