Watch I Served the King of England

I Served the King of England is a Czech film from 2006 that paints a satirical portrait of Czechoslovakia before, during, and after World War II through the eyes of a charming and ambitious young man named Jan Díte (played by Ivan Barnev). The film is based on a novel by Bohumil Hrabal, a celebrated Czech writer. The story starts in the early 1930s when Jan Díte leaves his small hometown to seek his fortune in Prague. He is a waiter in various hotels and restaurants, but he dreams of becoming a millionaire and owning his own hotel. He is also a womanizer, and he uses his charm and good looks to seduce several women, including his boss' daughter Liza (played by Julia Jentsch).

Jan Díte's fortunes change when he gets a job at a luxurious hotel frequented by wealthy and influential people. He is soon promoted to headwaiter, and he learns the art of excellent service and flexibility. He also becomes obsessed with achieving his financial goals and ingratiating himself with the wealthy guests.

Despite the increasing tensions in Europe, Jan Díte continues to thrive in the hotel business. He even manages to serve the Nazi leaders who invade Czechoslovakia, which leads to his arrest and imprisonment. After the war, he is released from prison and forced to start his life over again.

The film mixes humor, nostalgia, and tragedy to create a poignant picture of a country and its people in flux. The beautiful cinematography captures the changing landscape of Czechoslovakia, from the pre-war glamor and prosperity to the devastation and poverty of the post-war era. The score, composed by Ales Brezina, adds to the haunting, dreamlike mood of the film, evoking the shifting emotions of the characters and the time period.

Ivan Barnev delivers an excellent performance as the ambitious and self-centered Jan Díte, who slowly realizes the cost of his success and the damage it has caused to his own life and the lives of those around him. His character is flawed but sympathetic, and the audience can't help but root for him as he faces his challenges and grows as a person.

Oldrich Kaiser also shines as the eccentric and wise Jewish philosopher, Armenian, who has a significant influence on Jan Díte's worldview. His scenes are some of the most memorable and thought-provoking in the film, and he provides a much-needed counterbalance to the greed and materialism that his young protege embodies.

Julia Jentsch is also excellent as Liza, the stylish and ambitious hotelier who catches Jan Díte's eye. She brings depth and complexity to her character, and her chemistry with Barnev is electric.

Overall, I Served the King of England is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film that captures the spirit of an era and the struggles of its people. It offers a fresh and engaging perspective on Czechoslovakia's complicated history and the human cost of ambition and greed.

I Served the King of England is a 2006 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 72.