Dimensions of Švankmajer

This selection of surreal shorts from the extraordinary career of Czech filmmaker and animator Jan Švankmajer is enriched by rare, authentic film prints.

Introduced by Jez Stewart, Curator of Animation, BFI National Archive

  • Total running time 75min

The Last Trick of Mr Schwarzwald and Mr Edgar

Poslední Trik Pana Schwarcewalldea A Pana Edgara

Czechoslovakia 1964. 12min. 35mm

The Apartment

Byt

Czechoslovakia 1968. 13min. 35mm

A Quiet Week at Home

Tichý Týden V Domě

Czechoslovakia 1969. 20min. 35mm

The Ossuary

Kostnice

Czechoslovakia 1970. 10min. 35mm

Dimensions of Dialogue

Možnosti Dialogu

Czechoslovakia 1982. 12min. 35mm

Darkness, Light, Darkness

Tma, Světlo, Tma

Czechoslovakia 1989. 8min. 35mm

Don’t hold on to the familiar when you enter Švankmajer’s world – it will only betray you. A head doubles as a violin case. Household objects revolt to deny their user even the simplest of life’s pleasures. Domesticity is recognisable, but abstracted, subverted and peered at through drilled holes in locked doors. Stop motion was the secret weapon employed for a sabotage mission on reality by Švankmajer’s early films, while his later shorts are established classics of animation – perhaps most famously his Arcimboldo meets Morph masterpiece, Dimensions of Dialogue. The programme is also a showcase for the unique colour palette of Orwo colour film stock, widely used in Eastern Europe. The programme also includes a stunning print of his debut film The Last Trick of Mr Schwarzwald and Mr Edgar.

Jez Stewart

Contains flashing images.

Access information

The screening on Thursday 12 June 18:15 NFT3 will include a BSL interpreted introduction.