X

2008
R
Sony Pictures Classics
1 h 53 m

2008
R
Sony Pictures Classics
1 h 53 m

Summary Jan Dít? is short in height, but high in ambition. To put it bluntly, the young provincial waiter wants to become a millionaire. And he knows just how to do it: by hearing everything, seeing everything, and creating opportunities at every turn. Armed with this knowledge and an irrepressible wish to please, he soon leaves his first place ...

Directed By: Jirí Menzel

Written By: Bohumil Hrabal, Jirí Menzel

2008
R
Sony Pictures Classics
1 h 53 m

2008
R
Sony Pictures Classics
1 h 53 m

I Served the King of England

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 26 Critic Reviews

72

User Score Generally Favorable Based on 7 User Ratings

7.9

My Score

Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary Jan Dít? is short in height, but high in ambition. To put it bluntly, the young provincial waiter wants to become a millionaire. And he knows just how to do it: by hearing everything, seeing everything, and creating opportunities at every turn. Armed with this knowledge and an irrepressible wish to please, he soon leaves his first place ...

Directed By: Jirí Menzel

Written By: Bohumil Hrabal, Jirí Menzel

Where to Watch

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 26 Critic Reviews

81% Positive
21 Reviews

19% Mixed
5 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 26 Critic Reviews

81% Positive
21 Reviews

19% Mixed
5 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Christian Science Monitor

It's a giddy nightmare. Nothing is quite what it seems in I Served the King of England, and this is poetically appropriate. The world it depicts is too dangerous and too lovely to classify.

By Peter Rainer FULL REVIEW

The Hollywood Reporter

It is a sumptuously told tale of childlike wonder in the face of darkest corruption and war, mixing high comedy, surreal sequences and genuine drama viewed from a wise, jaundiced perspective.

By Ray Bennett FULL REVIEW

A virtual primer on the unique mixture of self-deprecating dark humor and personal tragedy that has been the Czech cinema's stock-in-trade since their celebrated 1960s New Wave.

By Eddie Cockrell FULL REVIEW

Philadelphia Inquirer

Delicious confection about the resilient Czech character, tastes like a bittersweet chocolate souffle, it's much more substantial than dessert.

By Carrie Rickey FULL REVIEW

The New York Times

The performance of Mr. Barnev, who has the poker face and agility of a silent clown, defines the style of a film whose timing and physical comedy look back to 1920s slapstick.

By Stephen Holden FULL REVIEW

The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

Should be a brilliant picture, one last testament to the intertwined sensibilities of two brave artists. Should be, but isn't.

By Rick Groen FULL REVIEW

Austin Chronicle

I Served the King of England, like its hero, is surrounded by and infused with the potential for meaning but feels like a lark: a bit of nothing whistling past the graveyard of 20th century European history without a thing to do but indulge itself.

See All 26 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

User Score

Generally Favorable Based on 7 User Ratings

86% Positive
6 Ratings

0% Mixed
0 Ratings

14% Negative
1 Rating

User Reviews

User Score

Generally Favorable Based on 7 User Ratings

86% Positive
6 Ratings

0% Mixed
0 Ratings

14% Negative
1 Rating

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

Production Company AQS, Barrandov Studios, Bioscop, In Film Praha, In Film, Magic Box, Ministerstvo kultury, TV Nova, The Czech Republic State Fund for Support and Development of Cinematography, Universal Production Partners (UPP)

Release Date Aug 29, 2008

Duration 1 h 53 m

Rating R

Genres

Tagline Ambition will get you anywhere

Website http://englischer-koenig-derfilm.de/

View All Details

Awards

Czech Lions

• 4 Wins & 9 Nominations

Sun in a Net Awards, Slovakia

• 1 Win & 5 Nominations

Berlin International Film Festival

• 1 Win & 2 Nominations

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