The 26th Made in Prague Festival in collaboration with the Garden Cinema proudly presents the UK Premiere of Kunstkamera, the last film by Jan Švankmajer.

Introduction by Gareth Evans    

Kunstkamera

Jan Švankmajer, Czech Republic 2022, 51‘, no dialogue

A tantalising view of the Czech surrealist and filmmaker Jan Svankmajer’s private collection of artefacts and objects, full of beauty and magic

In Kunstkamera Czech surrealist Jan Švankmajer opens the door to his Horní Staňkov Castle  inviting us into his home where the living space is intricately and organically intertwined with an exhibition space filled with installations, paintings, puppets and products of nature, but also an unmade bed, his bedside table, an open bottle of beer and a dog bowl. Horní Staňkov is home to the eclectic private collection that Švankmajer has built throughout his life inspired by the kunstkameras of Rudolf II and André Breton. Now providing a tantalising view into his world through the sequence of objects and an interpretation of the collection, Švankmajer’s inner landscape is captured on film for posterity and shared with his fans from all over the world. A treat not to be missed.  

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Historia Naturae (Suita)

Jan Švankmajer, Czechoslovakia 1967‘, 9´, no dialogue        

A eight-part animated portrait of various species using medieval prints and live creatures to illustrate animal evolution.

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ANIMATION

Dimensions of Dialogue

Jan Švankmajer, Czechoslovakia 1983, 14´, no dialogue  

In this short masterpiece on various forms of communication, Švankmajer illustrates via dazzling animated metaphors and without a single word, three dialogues, the eternal, the passionate and the exhausing.