A downside to the rapid development of technology is the loss of other arts, like excellent puppet shows like this one for example. Švankmajer's work alone makes me want to learn Czech just so I can watch his films in its original form.
Švankmajer's 1994 film has made my heart pound, each time, for two decades. Here I discover Radok's film and its shocking similarities in puppet miniature. Thank you!
Faust is an important work in the Czech republic in a way it isn't anywhere else. So both were influenced by the legend. Watch my video called Prague's Faustian Bargain" which has a reconstruction of an old version of Faust.
@@GravityFromAbove Thank you! It was a lovely if bittersweet video. I confess to having walked among those masses, but I broke from the crowds to seek after Švankmajer: I looked for his "Faust" shooting locations in Park na Karlově náměstí and elsewhere -- and in Nerudova Street I found a marionette shop run by an old woman who said she attended school with Švankmajer. ("What a big shot," she sighed.) I adore the Czech republic's closeness to unreality -- not only in Švankmajer, of course, but in Jiří Barta and Karel Zeman and throughout the New Wave and into contemporary artists. Of course, I speak as an outsider, but hopefully an affectionate one.
Radok had quite the influence on Švankmajer indeed; if anyone familiar with JŠ assumed this was an initial earlier attempt to tell the Faustian story, it would not surprise me. Not only as you noted is the composer the master Z Liska, but much of the materials and art used here look very much like the work of JŠ’s long-time collaborator and wife, Eva. If she was actually involved with this wonderful Radok short, well I shall plead ignorant ;)
They are all swimming in a deep well of Czech imagery. Prague swims in this stuff. A trip to the Strahov Monastery shows a portrait made of seeds which looks a lot like something from Švankmajer's Dimension in Dialogue. Švankmajer is completely influenced by Czech puppetry, of which Faust is the supreme example. He also pays his tribute to Radok in several interviews. Eva too was bubbling in the same cauldron. Švankmajer also says that the wunderkammer of the time of Rudolh II.
@@GravityFromAbove Great points. Makes me think of what the Quay Brothers said in an interview concerning the Czech surrealist school, I’m paraphrasing as I don’t have the dvd on at the moment: “The whole concept of surrealism already existed in Bohemia in the 16th century, under Ruldoph II” I very much love “Rudolf II of Habsburg as Vertumnus” the ubiquitous oil painting by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, as I’m sure you do too; Švanjmajer & the Quays especially have been inspired by Arcimboldo oils, the ‘kammers & so on, as you also don’t need me to tell you ;) Prague seemed to be the artistic/cultural “center” at the time, based on everything that I’ve seen from afar & have read. I’m saddened that I’ve never visited :/ -Kind regards
By subs I assume you mean subtitles and not subscribers. Alas the original didn't have it. It's the story of Faust. Pretty well known. Try Phillip Marlowe's version.
A downside to the rapid development of technology is the loss of other arts, like excellent puppet shows like this one for example.
Švankmajer's work alone makes me want to learn Czech just so I can watch his films in its original form.
Indeed. This is the real thing.
Most beautiful!
Švankmajer's 1994 film has made my heart pound, each time, for two decades. Here I discover Radok's film and its shocking similarities in puppet miniature. Thank you!
Faust is an important work in the Czech republic in a way it isn't anywhere else. So both were influenced by the legend. Watch my video called Prague's Faustian Bargain" which has a reconstruction of an old version of Faust.
@@GravityFromAbove Thank you! It was a lovely if bittersweet video. I confess to having walked among those masses, but I broke from the crowds to seek after Švankmajer: I looked for his "Faust" shooting locations in Park na Karlově náměstí and elsewhere -- and in Nerudova Street I found a marionette shop run by an old woman who said she attended school with Švankmajer. ("What a big shot," she sighed.) I adore the Czech republic's closeness to unreality -- not only in Švankmajer, of course, but in Jiří Barta and Karel Zeman and throughout the New Wave and into contemporary artists. Of course, I speak as an outsider, but hopefully an affectionate one.
Wow! Never knew anything of Svankmajer prior to "The Last Trick". Thanks a million for posting this!
Yes I noticed that it was nowhere to be found. So be my guest! Enjoy.
Radok had quite the influence on Švankmajer indeed; if anyone familiar with JŠ assumed this was an initial earlier attempt to tell the Faustian story, it would not surprise me. Not only as you noted is the composer the master Z Liska, but much of the materials and art used here look very much like the work of JŠ’s long-time collaborator and wife, Eva. If she was actually involved with this wonderful Radok short, well I shall plead ignorant ;)
They are all swimming in a deep well of Czech imagery. Prague swims in this stuff. A trip to the Strahov Monastery shows a portrait made of seeds which looks a lot like something from Švankmajer's Dimension in Dialogue. Švankmajer is completely influenced by Czech puppetry, of which Faust is the supreme example. He also pays his tribute to Radok in several interviews. Eva too was bubbling in the same cauldron. Švankmajer also says that the wunderkammer of the time of Rudolh II.
@@GravityFromAbove Great points. Makes me think of what the Quay Brothers said in an interview concerning the Czech surrealist school, I’m paraphrasing as I don’t have the dvd on at the moment: “The whole concept of surrealism already existed in Bohemia in the 16th century, under Ruldoph II”
I very much love “Rudolf II of Habsburg as Vertumnus” the ubiquitous oil painting by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, as I’m sure you do too; Švanjmajer & the Quays especially have been inspired by Arcimboldo oils, the ‘kammers & so on, as you also don’t need me to tell you ;) Prague seemed to be the artistic/cultural
“center” at the time, based on everything that I’ve seen from afar & have read. I’m saddened that I’ve never visited :/
-Kind regards
@@TzadikTheManic One of my favorite places is the Strahov Monastery Library and Wunderkammer. I have a video on it here.
No subs ?
By subs I assume you mean subtitles and not subscribers. Alas the original didn't have it. It's the story of Faust. Pretty well known. Try Phillip Marlowe's version.