Václav Mergl: It’s time to end Disneyism

Little Cousins

Václav Mergl | Czechoslovakia | 1988 | 8 min

This rather atypical film for Václav Mergl, made in collaboration with another distinctive graphic artist Jiří Šalamoun, is an adaptation of a classical horror theme. The author deliberately set his character, a woman who seduces men in order to prey on them, in the realities of the communist normalisation era. The story is an indirect reference to the communist regime in the authors’ homeland.

We 04/05/2016
18.00-19.01

Su 08/05/2016
12.30-13.31

Světozor Cinema

Halo, Albert

Václav Mergl | Czechoslovakia | 1990 | 8 min

Hello, Albert is an original farce about destiny and relativity set in a modern megapolis. A toddler falls out of a skyscraper window and its entire life passes during the way down and back up again. The toddler grows old and then reverts back because of a time glitch caused by a drowsing grandpa who accidentally bumps into a time machine.

We 04/05/2016
18.00-19.01

Su 08/05/2016
12.30-13.31

Světozor Cinema

Laokoon

Václav Mergl | Czechoslovakia | 1970 | 12 min

Astronauts landing on an unknown planet are overcome with greed evoked by all-consuming amoebas transformed into gemstones. The greed kills the entire crew and the amoebas can take over their ship and eventually Earth. Among other techniques, Mergl uses animated xylographic illustrations and the film‘s uniqueness is underscored by its soundtrack.

We 04/05/2016
18.00-19.01

Su 08/05/2016
12.30-13.31

Světozor Cinema

Crabs

Václav Mergl | Czechoslovakia | 1976 | 11 min

After a five-year ban imposed on Václav Mergl after Laokoon, the director was allowed to adapt a sci-fi story by Anatoly Dneprov which is warning against the development of intelligent weapon systems. Supplied with enough metal, these systems are able to reproduce out of control. The embossed cut-outs in this film are pasted together in several layers, and the metallic look was created with the tin foil from cigarette packs.

We 04/05/2016
18.00-19.01

Su 08/05/2016
12.30-13.31

Světozor Cinema

Microbe

Václav Mergl | Czechoslovakia | 1986 | 16 min

This black allegorical farce uses microbes in the human body to portray how humankind destroys its own planet. Artistically and animation-wise, the film is a perfect example of meticulously drawn cel animation. Also, for the first time in Mergl’s filmography, we can see light humour alternating with chilling moments. For example when the microbes become a marching herd led by a dictator and the film’s anti-happy end.

We 04/05/2016
18.00-19.01

Su 08/05/2016
12.30-13.31

Světozor Cinema

Metamorphoses

Václav Mergl | Czechoslovakia | 1964 | 4 min

“Inside the material, faint smiles form, various tensions collide and samples of shapes thicken.” This quote by Bruno Schulz introduces Mergl’s graduate film, in which he animated clay – a seemingly lifeless material. Accompanied by jazz music, the film depicts the processes of formation, decline and proliferation while supplementing the geometrically formed material with a raster “veil.”

We 04/05/2016
18.00-19.01

Su 08/05/2016
12.30-13.31

Světozor Cinema

The study of a Contact

Václav Mergl | Czechoslovakia | 1966 | 1 min

This largely unknown addition to Mergl’s filmography, sometimes also called Studie hmatu, was created in a very non-traditional way. After the success of his Metamorphoses, the director was given the opportunity to produce a one-minute colour film with a story of his choosing. The film was funded by a Canadian grant obtained for Mergl via FITES. He used it to broaden his experience in exploring material transformation.

We 04/05/2016
18.00-19.01

Su 08/05/2016
12.30-13.31

Světozor Cinema

Homunkulus

Václav Mergl | Czechoslovakia | 1984 | 11 min

A peculiar interpretation of the medieval alchemists’ art of creating a living being. This reflection on mankind and the grand scheme of things was deliberately created as a cartoon comedy. Despite that, the studio management of the time found it unacceptable, and the film had to include an introduction referring to Hieronymus Bosch. For the first time in his career, Mergl used his own works of art which take on a magical function in the film.

We 04/05/2016
18.00-19.01

Su 08/05/2016
12.30-13.31

Světozor Cinema