Samizdat Festival Opening: Animations of the late Eastern Bloc (1980s and 90s)
This special screening will include a recorded introduction by Michaela Pavlátová, a Czech animator and the Chair of the Animation Department at FAMU Prague. Her experimental short animations, many of which deal with the themes of gender, philosophy, and human interaction, have received numerous international awards, such as the Golden Bear prize and an Oscar nomination. ‘Take a kilogram of ideas (if possible, not too confused), 50 kilograms of talent, and a few thousand drawings. Stir it well and then with a bit of luck you won’t get the right answer to your question.’ – members of The Zagreb School of Animated Film Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival 2024 begins with the second instalment of bizarre, eerie, and unique animated films from the late Eastern Bloc (1980-1997). A surgery is performed on a bust of Joseph Stalin, a yeti living in the mountains of Kazakhstan gets to listen to The B-52s, a school of vengeful fish attacks a seaside village, and a man pawns his face to buy a lottery ticket – this is a collection of some of the most dreamlike and thought-provoking shorts from a time and place where the animated image served as a stage for radically unprecedented artistic and political expression. Wizards (Garabonciák) by Dóra Keresztes and István Orosz, Hungary, 1985 A synaesthetic experience of a fantastical, psychedelic dreamscapes of an old shaman, where animals, humans, colours, and shapes blend and transform seamlessly into one another. Fisheye (Riblje Oko) by Joško Marušić, Croatia, 1980 In a small, dreary fishing village, the men set off to find their catch of the day, whilst their families stay behind. But suddenly, the hunters become the prey… Some Exercises in Preparation of an Independent Life (Harjutusi Iseseisvaks Eluks) by Priit Pärn, Estonia, 1980 The free and ever-transmuting life of a child violently clashes with the rigid routine of an adult office clerk, until the child, too, begins to seek an ‘independent life’. The Death of Stalinism in Bohemia: A Work of Agitprop by Jan Švankmajer, Czech Republic, 1991 The Death of Stalinism in Bohemia is Jan Švankmajer’s most openly political film, depicting Czech history under the Soviet occupation all the way until the ‘Velvet Revolution’ in 1989, as portrayed in Švankmajer’s distinctively grotesque and violent stop-motion style. Words, Words, Words… (Řeči, Řeči, Řeči…) by Michaela Pavlátová, Czech Republic, 1991 In this sharp hand-drawn satire, we see a literalisation of the shapes and forms of human communication, and of how individuals relate to, or become trapped by, one another through language. Nature’s Wreath (Венец природы) by Stepan Galstyan, Armenia, 1982 A bureaucrat decides to flee the cacophonous hyperstimulation of modern city life to find peace in the countryside. Is the natural world, free of industrial machines and the relentless pace of urban life, as good as it seems to be? Julia’s Birthday (День народження Юлії) by Natalia Marchenkova, Ukraine, 1994 In this modern remake of Viy, a woman must save her soul after her motorcyclist ex-boyfriend’s ghost returns to the earthly plane to haunt her. For a Penny by Agnieszka Woznicka, Poland, 1997 In this stop-motion made in the chiaroscuro style of German Expressionism, a poor man sells his face to a pawnshop for a penny, hoping to use it to buy a single lottery ticket. Mind the Steps! (Vigyázat, lépcső!) by István Orosz, Hungary, 1989 Sometime in the late 1980s – the last years of a dwindling regime – a typical apartment block in Budapest is seen from the tipsy-turvy perspective of a young boy. Möbius strip-like stairs and disorientating camera angles create a jarring and visually striking experience. Our Holiday (Ünnepeink) by Katalin Macskássy, Hungary, 1982 The history of state socialism is narrated through the animations and words of young children, whose perception of the Hungarian holidays playfully ironicises the grand narratives that nations construct for themselves. Once Upon a Time… (Однажды) by G. Sadykova, Kazakhstan, 1987 In the middle of snowy mountains, a yeti stumbles upon a television set and is shocked by his discovery of human entertainment. English subtitles, audio in original language(s) Content/access notes: flashing images, blood and gore, animated violence, animated violence against children, nudity/sexual content. If you want to attend this screening but find it unaffordable, you may be able to have the cost of your ticket, commute, and/or childcare covered by the Samizdat Audience Access Fund — see here for further details. ----- Year of Celebration Film - Donate £50 at checkout 2024 marks 85 years since our cinema (originally the Cosmo) was built, 50 years since GFT was founded and the 20th edition of Glasgow Film Festival. Whilst our box office and bar sales only cover around 50% of our annual costs and help keep the film reels rolling, we rely on donations and fundraising to run our education and community activities. We need your help! Celebrate 50 years of GFT by donating £50 at checkout. A £50 donation also secures your seat at our special January screening. Find out more or donate HERE. Your contribution matters.AnimationPT1H28MN/C 18+2024-10-01Dóra Keresztes
István Orosz; Joško Marušić; Priit Pärn; Jan Švankmajer; Michaela Pavlátová; Stepan Galstyan; Natalia Marchenkova; Agnieszka Woznicka; Katalin Macskássy; G. Sadykova
Samizdat Festival Opening: Animations of the late Eastern Bloc (1980s and 90s)"Samizdat Festival Opening: Animations of the late Eastern Bloc (1980s and 90s)"Showtimes
October 1, 5:50 pm
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