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Films

Screening of Invention Diabolique (1958)

Black and white Czech animation masterpiece


Date & time
Sunday, March 29, 2015
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Speaker(s)

Éric Falardeau

Cost

$8, $6 for students and seniors. Tickets available at the door only, in cash.

Contact

Philippe Spurrell
514-738-3456

Where

Visual Arts Building
1395 René Lévesque W.
Room VA-114

Wheel chair accessible

Yes

Karel Zeman's Invention Diabolique (The Fabulous World of Jules Verne)
(1958, Czechoslovakia, 84 min., French dubbed version)

The brilliant inventor professor Roch works for the betterment of humanity while the sinister count Artiga wants to appropriate his inventions for personal profit.

Freely adapted from the universe of Jules Verne by the "Czech Méliès", this film offers a sumptuous feast of invention and magic. It mixes live action, cut-out and puppet animation in a series of set pieces that grow more astounding scene by scene as Karel Zeman takes us into his fabulous world of flying machines, submarines and mysterious creatures.

This unique hybrid of techniques is a hallmark of Zeman, a man fascinated at a young age by puppets in cinema. Shot in a magnificent black and white, he was inspired by the engravings of Edouard Riou, illustrator of six novels by Jules Verne. Here he reproduces the signature lines and contrasts in minute detail in both the costumes and painted backgrounds.

Considered as the director/animator’s finest work, winning a multitude of grand prizes, The Fabulous World Of Jules Verne was distributed in 72 countries making it the most popular Czech film of all time. His films remain timeless classics that Czech children revisit every Christmas. This hand-made film has barely aged and still manages to leave modern audiences breathless in this modern age dominated by colder digital product.

You are privileged to view a longer uncut French version 16mm print struck at a superior quality European lab offering incredible density and detail. If you have difficulty understanding French dialogue, worry not as the story is very easy to follow.

Coffee, tea and home-baked desserts offered at intermission.

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