Jan Svankmajer's fourth feature is the story of a thirtysomething couple who, despite their infertility, yearn to have a baby. When Karel (Jan Hartl), the husband, digs up a stump that resembles a newborn, he varnishes it and presents it to his wife, Bozena (Veronika Zilkova), hoping to comfort her and fill the void in their .. Read more
| Starring | Veronika Zilkova, Jan Hartl, Kristina Adamcova, Pavel Novy |
|---|---|
| Director | Jan Svankmajer |
| Genres | Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, World Cinema |
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Jan Svankmajer's fourth feature is the story of a thirtysomething couple who, despite their infertility, yearn to have a baby. When Karel (Jan Hartl), the husband, digs up a stump that resembles a newborn, he varnishes it and presents it to his wife, Bozena (Veronika Zilkova), hoping to comfort her and fill the void in their lives. To his astonishment, Bozena immediately begins treating the stump like a real child, and the two dub the stump Otik. Karel's astonishment grows when Bozena manages to nurse Otik into a mewling, living baby, a newborn with a wooden body and a voracious appetite. It isn't long before Otik devours the family cat and the postman, forcing the couple into a quandary. However, Alzbetka, their precocious pre-adolescent neighbor, has discovered the couple's secret by reading a Czech folk tale that parallels the strange occurrences next door, giving the young girl an idea of her own for Otik.
As in Svankmajer's superb 1996 film CONSPIRATORS OF PLEASURE, the director uses his trademark stop-motion animation sparingly and focuses on his characters' desires, invariably making them seem perverse (food is always particularly grotesque in Svankmajer's universe). Brilliant, funny, and frightening, LITTLE OTIK is a wonderfully entertaining and disturbing film.
| Starring | Veronika Zilkova, Jan Hartl, Kristina Adamcova, Pavel Novy, Jaroslava Kretschmerova |
|---|---|
| Director | Jan Svankmajer |
| Studio | CINEMA CLUB |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 6 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: Czech |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | Production year: 2000 To Rent: DVD: not available |
"...With the boldly bizarre, darkly funny but poignant LITTLE OTIK prodigious Czech filmmaker Jan Svankmajer once again creates his unique blend of live-action and animation..."
- 8
- 0
Quite possibly the ...
Quite possibly the weirdest film I have ever seen, but arguably one of the best. The image of Otik eating the social worker - priceless!
[Highly rated reviewer]
- 1
- 0
Long movie, but its good
The movie is based around a theme, which is this old Czechoslovakian folk tale of a couple unable to bear children, but are so desperate for one that they ... read more »
- 1
- 0
I was sent this title, even though it was not on my rental list
I was sent this title by mistake, so sent it straight back. However, I have seen the film before, and it is enchanting, magical and very intriguing, if you like... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
- 2
- 0
Impressive Nonsense.
If more films like this were made, and we all watched them regularly, we would all probably be raving mad ! As mad as the Czech way of life which it is ... read more »
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