The Dung Beetle is late, the Parasite is asleep and Mrs Larva is more interested in her knitting than the director’s instructions. It’s clear: this amateur theatre company has a long way to go before they can perform their version of The Insect Play, a famous satirical work from 1922 by the brothers Karel and Josef Čapek which features insects with decidedly human traits: greed, egocentrism, jealousy.
The misanthropic play suffered severe criticism due to its pessimistic finale, explains Jan Švankmajer at the start of his film Insect. Under pressure, the authors adapted the end, to Švankmajer’s chagrin. Naturally, the 83-year old master of surrealist cinema gave the Čapeks’ work his own, unique twist. With animations, behind-the-scenes footage and various intermezzos, he has turned Insect into a witty, fantastical satire on theatre, film, dreams and everything that makes humans human – and insects, insects.
Film details
Productielanden
Czech Republic, Slovakia
Jaar
2018
Festivaleditie
IFFR 2018
Lengte
98'
Medium/Formaat
DCP
Taal
Czech
Première status
World premiere
Director
Jan Švankmajer
Producer
Jaromír Kallista
Screenplay
Jan Švankmajer
Editing
Jan Daňhel
Production design
Jan Švankmajer, Václav Švankmajer
Sound design
Ivo Špalj
Principal cast
Jan Budař, Kamila Magálová, Jiří Lábus, Ivana Uhlířová, Norbert Lichý, Jaromír Dulava