Fantastic Planet

Fantastic Planet 1973

7.65

On the planet Ygam, the Draags, extremely technologically and spiritually advanced blue humanoids, consider the tiny Oms, human beings descendants of Terra's inhabitants, as ignorant animals. Those who live in slavery are treated as simple pets and used to entertain Draag children; those who live hidden in the hostile wilderness of the planet are periodically hunted and ruthlessly slaughtered as if they were vermin.

1973

The Pied Piper

The Pied Piper 1988

7.40

A darkly brilliant stop-motion adaptation of The Pied Piper of Hamelin about a plague of rats that punish townsfolk corrupt with greed. One of Czechoslovakia's most ambitious animation projects of the 1980s, notable for its unusual dark art direction, innovative animation techniques and use of a fictitious language.

1988

Darkness, Light, Darkness

Darkness, Light, Darkness 1989

7.60

A human body gradually reconstructs itself as its various component parts crowd themselves into a small room and eventually, after much experimentation, sort out which part goes where.

1989

The Flying Sneaker

The Flying Sneaker 1991

6.20

Little Rehor isn't allowed to play with the other boys. His only friend is the girl next door, Luci. Rehor's father is doctor on a boat and he has sent Rehor a package with butterfly larvae. When they hatch he discover a fairy who can do magic tricks.

1991

Briar-Rose or the Sleeping Beauty

Briar-Rose or the Sleeping Beauty 1990

6.20

On her fifteenth birthday the princess finds a diary written by her mother when she was young. The diary tells of the Queen's secret, early love. The Princess goes into the forest to meet her mother's former lover. When she looks into his eyes, she realizes why her mother had fallen in love...

1990

The Pit, the Pendulum and Hope

The Pit, the Pendulum and Hope 1983

6.80

Animated short film based on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum" and Auguste Villiers de l'Isle-Adam's "A Torture by Hope".

1983

Dimensions of Dialogue

Dimensions of Dialogue 1983

7.64

Three surreal depictions of failures of communication that occur on all levels of human society.

1983

Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, a Sailor from York

Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, a Sailor from York 1982

7.00

The picture, unlike the other film adaptations of the story, focuses much more on Crusoe’s life before and after his stay on the island. Following the principle of setting the novel right, it describes Crusoe’s experiences with delicate irony and understanding.

1982

Oil Gobblers

Oil Gobblers 1988

6.60

A zoologist and a biochemist go out into an oilfield with a cameraman and filmmaker to observe and study the elusive oil gobblers.

1988

Castle of Otranto

Castle of Otranto 1977

6.60

An adaptation of the 1764 work of the same name, the first Gothic novel. In this mockumentary, the amateur archaeologist Dr. Vozáb has set to prove that the supernatural ghost love story takes place not in Italy, but in Otranto Castle near Náchod in Czechoslovakia.

1977

Virile Games

Virile Games 1988

6.80

A man sits down to watch a football match, which seems to consist of the players being violently mutilated in various inventive ways. The players then leave the football pitch and invade the spectator's flat.

1988

Players

Players 1982

1

Cartoon tennis match, with players based on Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.

1982

Rider on a Bucket

Rider on a Bucket 1992

7.30

Happened in Prague on a cold February evening, 1917: the poor violinist's atrium runs out of coal and his dancing mouse becomes ill. The coal bucket is empty, and without sparing any effort, the faithful bucket rides its master through the air towards the home of the carbon trader...

1992

A Ballad About Green Wood

A Ballad About Green Wood 1983

5.90

Pieces of wood are captured by a crow and dance in celebration of spring in this animated short film.

1983

Faust's House

Faust's House 1977

1

A film story based on the old Prague legends. It tells about a poor student lured by wealth, which he prefers to knowledge. In the end, he sells his soul to the evil powers. The Devil takes him to hell and since then there is a blackened hole on the ceiling of a Prague house.

1977

Island for 6,000 Alarm Clocks

Island for 6,000 Alarm Clocks 1977

1

The first professional animated film by Petr Sís, who later became the great children's author-illustrator Peter Sís after emigrating to America. Based on an odd satiric story by Miloš Macourek; purportedly banned in Czechoslovakia upon its release.

1977