The first Němec film made in Czechoslovakia, after his return from his long time in exile. Adapted from the novel by the Czech philosopher Ladislav Klíma, follower of Nietzsche and rebellious outsider, it portrays a deranged royal family whose members, including a punk prince and his kinky wife, enthusiastically dive into pure chaos and madness. Using the pulp style of burlesque and grand-guignol, Němec mocks an interplay of freedom and abuse, as well as showing, in a satirical way, the relationships between transgression and enlightenment.
Shot in Prague immediately after the Velvet Revolution that started a process of globalisation in the country, it is also a tribute to those euphoric years. However, Němec is fully aware that globalism is also about the convergence of different times, as in this film the barbarian medieval age perfectly meets and matches the neoliberal present.
Film details
- Country of production
- Czechoslovakia
- Year
- 1991
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2017
- Length
- 87'
- Medium/Format
- 35mm
