Capricious Summer

Released Sep 24, 1968

1h 15m

Comedy

List

71%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Antonin (Rudolf Hrusínský) and his aging buddies, one a former military man and the other a priest, are trying to unwind during their summer vacation at a resort. Those plans are jettisoned, however, when a circus performer arrives at the retreat, along with his young and attractive assistant, and sets up shop by entertaining the guests with magic and big-top events. What first seems a bother to Antonin and his friends soon starts awakening memories of their own youth.

Renata Adler

New York Times

It's a big improvement over the thinly disguised industrial films that so often are used as short subjects in local movie houses.

Jan 9, 2018

Full Review

Nathanael Hood

Unseen Films

The kind of cinematic world you'd love to crawl into.

Rated: 7/10

May 24, 2020

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

It's boring, has little to say of value and its main characters are dullards.

Rated: C+

Dec 3, 2019

Full Review

Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

Menzel shows a knack for creating magical sequences and changing tones on a dime. Capricious Summer alternates from the lyrical to the ridiculous and back again. It's as moody and unpredictable as bad weather or the human heart.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 18, 2019

Full Review

Penelope Houston

The Spectator

A slight film, often funny, faithful to its oblique and muted insights.

Jun 18, 2019

Full Review

Manny Farber

Artforum

This rerun of dozed-off acting, Renoir color, and Bergman soupy philosophy winds up with the notion that a circus invariably leaves whistle-stop town sadder and wiser than it was in the first reel.

Jun 18, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

s r

Some timeless cultural gems here. It wasn't quite complete though with some plot distractions. Overall I enjoyed it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Charming, hilarious film directed by Jiri Menzel.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Being the first <b>light</b> disappointment I have with this cinema trend, <i>Capricious Summer</i> is an extremely simple story consisting more in anecdotes than in a real plot by Jirí Menzel which, if it wasn't for its use of Eastmancolor, could be easily confused with one of his earliest films instead of being "post-<i>Closely-Watched-Trains</i>". Is it completely devoid of all characteristic trademarks? Fortunately, it isn't. Random banal philosophizing and some irreverent playfulness make this film worth watching for avid followers of the Czech New Wave, which is not significantly representative of its revolutionary implications, but yet has Menzel's exploratory sexual component as its ingredient with some ironic remarks made during the final scenes of the ending. 73/100

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

based on a novel by Ladislav Van?ura

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Classical novel Rozmarne leto by Vladislav Vancura transformed into this charming film that became classical too.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

stupid european wine and cheese movie. nonetheless, menzel's breezy characters and near late 19th century romanticism lends a certain old world charm. solid movie watching experience. do not recommend to anyone hoping to get an erection.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jirí Menzel

Director

Rudolf Hrusínský

Antonín Dura

Mila Myslikova

Katerina Durová

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

The Firemen's Ball

91%

82%

The Firemen's Ball

The Twelve Chairs

87%

62%

The Twelve Chairs

The Producers

91%

85%

The Producers

Viva Maria

60%

48%

Viva Maria

Playtime

98%

89%

Playtime

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Antonin (Rudolf Hrusínský) and his aging buddies, one a former military man and the other a priest, are trying to unwind during their summer vacation at a resort. Those plans are jettisoned, however, when a circus performer arrives at the retreat, along with his young and attractive assistant, and sets up shop by entertaining the guests with magic and big-top events. What first seems a bother to Antonin and his friends soon starts awakening memories of their own youth.

Director: Jirí Menzel
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: Czech
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 24, 1968, Original
Release Date (DVD): Mar 28, 2006
Runtime: 1h 15m