Product guide

Closely Watched Trains: The Criterion Collection DVD

Closely Watched Trains from The Criterion Collection is a Czech-language drama on DVD, directed by Jiri Menzel. The listing describes a young train dispatcher coming of age during World War II, with English subtitles. This black-and-white, single-disc release is suited to viewers seeking the film in its listed DVD format.

At a glance

Czech-language film with English subtitles listed.
Black-and-white presentation and a 1.33:1 aspect ratio are specified.
Single-disc DVD release from The Criterion Collection.

Price

$14.98Save 50%

Reference price: ~~$29.95~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Often bought together

The Shop On Main Street (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]

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Pros and cons

Pros

English subtitles make the Czech-language presentation accessible to English-reading viewers.
The listed aspect ratio, audio format, and language details help buyers assess format expectations before purchase.

Cons

This is a DVD edition, not a Blu-ray release.

Technical specifications

12 specifications

Film
Genre	Drama
Director	Jiri Menzel
Runtime	1 hour and 33 minutes
Aspect ratio	1.33:1
Rating	NR (Not Rated)

Disc and presentation
Number of discs	1
Format	Black & White, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Subtitled
Language and audio	Czech (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles	English

Release and dimensions
Release date	September 18, 2001
Listed dimensions and weight	7.48 x 5.35 x 0.57 inches; 2.4 ounces
Model number	CRRNCLO100DVD

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The listing conflicts on presentation and runtime: its format details call the film black and white and give a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes, while the description says color and 89 minutes. Confirm the selected edition's actual presentation and duration before buying.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Viewers collecting Criterion Collection DVDs.
People interested in Czech-language drama and films directed by Jiri Menzel.
Buyers who want English subtitles on a DVD release.

Less suited to

Buyers specifically seeking a Blu-ray or a confirmed color presentation.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.4 / 5 · 98 ratings

5 stars74%74%
4 stars9%9%
3 stars7%7%
2 stars5%5%
1 star5%5%

Aggregate customer ratings lean positive, with most ratings in the top category, but a smaller spread across lower star levels indicates that experiences are not uniformly positive. These ratings do not reveal why customers felt as they did, so they cannot settle the listing's conflicting runtime or color details.

Frequently asked questions

What language is the film in?

The listing gives Czech as the language and English as the subtitle language.

Is the listed presentation black and white or color?

The format details say black and white, but the description says color. The listing is inconsistent, so verify the presentation for the selected edition.

How long is the film?

The details list 1 hour and 33 minutes, while the description says 89 minutes. The runtime is inconsistent in the listing.

How many discs are included?

The listing specifies one disc.