The common link between food and aggression throughout Jan Švankmajer’s oeuvre assumes ghastly new dimensions. At the core of his nightmarish but funny fourth feature lies Otesánek, a fairy tale popularised by folklorist Karel Erben concerning a couple who raise a tree stump as the child they could otherwise never have, foolishly not heeding the advice to “be careful what you wish for…”
Probably Švankmajer’s most accessible film, Little Otik incorporates animation of Eva Švankmajerová’s distinctive illustrations, several deliciously unsavoury episodes presented in spectacular stop-motion and excellent performances from Jan Hartl and Veronika Žilková as the “parents”.
CaSFFA is delighted to be presenting Little Otik in partnership with the Melbourne Cinémathèque.
