2008 Woodie Awards
Edgar Allan Poe meets Marquis de Sade in Svankmajer film
Movie Preview: 'Lunacy' 5 of 5 Stars
By: James Hansen
Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: LifeStyle
- Page 1 of 1
For years, Czech surrealist animator Jan Svankmajer has been obsessed and inspired by the work of a madman, the Marquis de Sade. This inspiration has been rooted in Svankmajer's work for years and comes to a head in his first feature film in six years, "Lunacy." Based on several short stories by Edgar Allan Poe and the work of de Sade, Svankmajer plunges not only into one of his more stomach-turning works, but also into one of his very best.
"Lunacy" follows the trek of an innocent traveler named Jean Berlot. On his way back from his mother's funeral, he meets the Marquis de Sade who offers him lunch and a stay in his castle. Sneaking around later that night, Berlot overlooks an orgy and a "therapeutic" funeral full of blasphemy, as the Marquis pounds more and more nails into a wooden statue of Jesus. Berlot is shocked by the obscenities, as is the audience, but Marquis' psychological arguments somehow make Berlot incapable of leaving the castle.
Berlot eventually ends up in an asylum where he plots to help the patients overthrow a brutal, dictatorial leader. However, in overthrowing the leader, the patients switch places with the doctors, which leads to many other troubles for our poor protagonist. Part of this is a fascinating tar-and-feather sequence where more feathers fly about the room than any film this side of Jean Vigo's "Zero For Conduct."
Svankmajer shows his true surrealist, anti-aesthetic roots in his transitional scenes that include lots of dancing meat in the form of stop-motion animated animal tongues, loose eyeballs and errant brains.
Svankmajer has founded himself in surrealist stop-motion animation since his perennial early shorts like "Dimensions of Dialogue." The animated sequences are a disgusting delight for the audience, especially when you consider the moral messages Svankmajer is conveying. These sequences are so alive and fluid that they almost overshadow the live-action sections of the film.
Svankmajer's fans cannot miss "Lunacy." Being shown on 35mm will enhance the Svankmajer experience and give everyone a chance to understand the artistry of Svankmajer more thoroughly. Although not as strong as Svankmajer's masterpiece "Conspirators of Pleasure," "Lunacy" is an incredibly accomplished work that will stand out as one of this year's best films.
For those unfamiliar with Svankmajer, this is a great opportunity to get introduced to one of today's greatest working artists. Although there is some nasty material in the film, it is all part of the Svankmajer flavor, and his films would not be the same without it.
"Lunacy" is an insane, madhouse meatfest with clear political and social overtones that give the film unexpected significance. "Lunacy" is a gem in the filmography of Svankmajer and a rare opportunity for filmgoers
"Lunacy" plays as part of the Webster University Film Series at 8 p.m. Oct. 27 through 29 in the Winifred Moore Auditorium. Admission is free to Webster students with a valid student ID and $6 for the general public.
"Lunacy" follows the trek of an innocent traveler named Jean Berlot. On his way back from his mother's funeral, he meets the Marquis de Sade who offers him lunch and a stay in his castle. Sneaking around later that night, Berlot overlooks an orgy and a "therapeutic" funeral full of blasphemy, as the Marquis pounds more and more nails into a wooden statue of Jesus. Berlot is shocked by the obscenities, as is the audience, but Marquis' psychological arguments somehow make Berlot incapable of leaving the castle.
Berlot eventually ends up in an asylum where he plots to help the patients overthrow a brutal, dictatorial leader. However, in overthrowing the leader, the patients switch places with the doctors, which leads to many other troubles for our poor protagonist. Part of this is a fascinating tar-and-feather sequence where more feathers fly about the room than any film this side of Jean Vigo's "Zero For Conduct."
Svankmajer shows his true surrealist, anti-aesthetic roots in his transitional scenes that include lots of dancing meat in the form of stop-motion animated animal tongues, loose eyeballs and errant brains.
Svankmajer has founded himself in surrealist stop-motion animation since his perennial early shorts like "Dimensions of Dialogue." The animated sequences are a disgusting delight for the audience, especially when you consider the moral messages Svankmajer is conveying. These sequences are so alive and fluid that they almost overshadow the live-action sections of the film.
Svankmajer's fans cannot miss "Lunacy." Being shown on 35mm will enhance the Svankmajer experience and give everyone a chance to understand the artistry of Svankmajer more thoroughly. Although not as strong as Svankmajer's masterpiece "Conspirators of Pleasure," "Lunacy" is an incredibly accomplished work that will stand out as one of this year's best films.
For those unfamiliar with Svankmajer, this is a great opportunity to get introduced to one of today's greatest working artists. Although there is some nasty material in the film, it is all part of the Svankmajer flavor, and his films would not be the same without it.
"Lunacy" is an insane, madhouse meatfest with clear political and social overtones that give the film unexpected significance. "Lunacy" is a gem in the filmography of Svankmajer and a rare opportunity for filmgoers
"Lunacy" plays as part of the Webster University Film Series at 8 p.m. Oct. 27 through 29 in the Winifred Moore Auditorium. Admission is free to Webster students with a valid student ID and $6 for the general public.
Be the first to comment on this story