Faust (Svankmajer: Lekce Faust)
"A Small Miracle." - Bill Hoffmann, New York Post
Jan Svankmajer's long awaited follow-up to his acclaimed "Alice" is an equally astounding version of the myth of Dr. Faustus. Merging live action with stop motion and claymation animation, Svankmajer has created an unsettling universe presided over by diabolic life-size marionettes and haunted by skulking human messengers from hell.
Svankmajer's Faust (movingly incarnated by one of the Czech Republic's finest actors, Peter Cape) is an ordinary, inquisitive everyman who, upon exiting a Prague subway station, is handed a map that draws him to his doom. Led to an abandoned theater, he finds a copy of Goethe's Faust, begins to read aloud, and unwittingly summons up a devil who offers him everything his heart desires in return for his soul. With breathtaking rapidity, Faust's journey takes him to the tops of mountains, drops him in the middle of lakes and sends him out onto the unsuspecting streets of Prague. Peopled with shape-changing demons and puppet-versions of Goethe's characters, Svankmajer's tour-de-force is alternately hilarious and shocking, always unique, and ultimately unforgettable.
Member Reviews
disturbing dreamscape - fennel
Svankmajer's Faust draws the viewer into a world of wonder, dream logic, and fear. Shifting from live action to clay animation to strange in-between places, the classic demon-summoning story of Faust takes on a distressingly staccato pacing that pulls the rug out from under the viewer's feet. Not exactly comfortable viewing, yet fascinating and evocative in its visuals.Out of the ordinary - Tillor
This is a movie, that expands your imagination a mental challenge, confrontation with the weird.
Faust is such a classic theme - here you have a surprisingly fresh take on it. I love Svankmajer
sense of humor and his visuals are funny/disturbing. A movie, that you will remember.Slightly disapointing - InpraiseofFolly
What I love about Svankmajer is that most of his movies unroll like some sort of Twisted Dali-esque dream sequence. I love the dirty dilapitated feel of his settings , the agressive cacophony of the sound effects , the jerky nightmarish motions of his puppets and clay figures. I simply love the feel of his movies. Having recently viewed ( and adored ) "Alice" I was quite adamant about seeing more of his work.
Although I did enjoy "Faust" it didn't really mesure up to my expectations as "Alice" was truly a masterpiece. Sure , it had the basic feel of "Alice" , the gritty visuals and the dream-like quality but it lacked a certain charm. It's predecessor , although just as chaotic and puzzling , wasn't as "messily" told as Faust. On it's own , it's an intriguing movie for those who enjoy their submerge all of their senses with surrealism in film.
Member Reviews
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disturbing dreamscape - fennel
Svankmajer's Faust draws the viewer into a world of wonder, dream logic, and fear. Shifting from live action to clay animation to strange in-between places, the classic demon-summoning story of Faust takes on a distressingly staccato pacing that pulls the ...Out of the ordinary - Tillor
This is a movie, that expands your imagination a mental challenge, confrontation with the weird.
Faust is such a classic theme - here you have a surprisingly fresh take on it. I love Svankmajer
sense of humor and his visuals are funny/disturbing. A ...Slightly disapointing - InpraiseofFolly
What I love about Svankmajer is that most of his movies unroll like some sort of Twisted Dali-esque dream sequence. I love the dirty dilapitated feel of his settings , the agressive cacophony of the sound effects , the jerky nightmarish motions of his puppets ...