Otesánek

For his fourth feature film, Jan Svankmajer (Alice, Faust, Conspirators of Pleasure) again opts for an old folkstory as a basis for again a powerful provocation. Since 1964, this very prolific artist has remained faithfull to his harsh, uncomprising style with rapid editing, close framing and menacing silences. In the Ex~Voto compilation programs, the following short films by Svankmajer are included: J.S. Bach (1965), A Quiet Week at the House (1969), Leonardo's Diary (1972). A complete outsider to all tastes and trends, Svankmajer with brutal force tackles problems of contemporary society. In Otesanek he considers the destructive side-effects of man's desire to (pro)create. A hapless couple with a desperare childwish gets trapped in its own fantasay of a tree-trunk resembling a new-born baby. Their imagination makes the wooden object come to life, but from then on its presence disrupts the social order of the whole building, with catastrophic results. Jan Svankmajer has characterised himself as a contemporary shaman, someone who can release unexpected powers from objects like effigies. He rather calls himself a militant surrealist than a filmmaker. Besides, he regularly switches from one medium to another. In continuous collaboration with hiswife Eva Svankmajerova, he regularly exhibits collages, engravings, poetry, porcelain and other (often tactile) objects. For a closer look at their art, visit the Chabot Museum, ... adres, data (website?)