Euroddity
3 films in this collection
An exploration of the surreal and weird essence behind the veil of mundanity that shrouds the lives of Central/Eastern European citizens.
Euroddity excavates the roots of absurdity with tools of art and artifacts of culture - we’re observing not Gregor Samsa’s natural monstrosity, but his record collection, mid-century furniture, and an intricate diet preferences.
Our first session is the stunning dark gems of Juraj Herz, a master of mysterious macabre humour and a gothic visionary of the Czechoslovak New Wave. A gifted photographer and puppeteer, a very talented self-taught director, Herz ended up far from being a New Wave poster-boy - he was Czechoslovak cinema’s great outsider. Over two decades marked by misunderstanding from his peers and constant intrusion from the authorities, Herz pursued his gothic vision of an expressionistic world undone by forces beyond rational control.
On Saturday, 10th of January, we’ll watch two very different milestones of Hertz filmography - the pulpiest and schlockiest 1982 FERAT VAMPIRE, a John Carpenter-esque horror comedy about a demonic race car that runs on human blood, and 1969 THE CREMATOR - a renowned cult classic, the most purely disturbing title of the Czech New Wave, and an enduring vision of the depravity lurking just beneath the surface of bourgeois respectability.
And on the 21st of January, we’ll meet BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - a personal take on a classic fairy tale motif, heavily decorated with horror, romance, baroque costumes, and distinct, eerie Moravian and French landscapes and architecture. Released in 1978, this gloomy, dreamlike fantasy cemented Herz’s reputation as a maestro of the macabre and a talented conjuror of atmosphere.
Euroddity excavates the roots of absurdity with tools of art and artifacts of culture - we’re observing not Gregor Samsa’s natural monstrosity, but his record collection, mid-century furniture, and an intricate diet preferences.
Our first session is the stunning dark gems of Juraj Herz, a master of mysterious macabre humour and a gothic visionary of the Czechoslovak New Wave. A gifted photographer and puppeteer, a very talented self-taught director, Herz ended up far from being a New Wave poster-boy - he was Czechoslovak cinema’s great outsider. Over two decades marked by misunderstanding from his peers and constant intrusion from the authorities, Herz pursued his gothic vision of an expressionistic world undone by forces beyond rational control.
On Saturday, 10th of January, we’ll watch two very different milestones of Hertz filmography - the pulpiest and schlockiest 1982 FERAT VAMPIRE, a John Carpenter-esque horror comedy about a demonic race car that runs on human blood, and 1969 THE CREMATOR - a renowned cult classic, the most purely disturbing title of the Czech New Wave, and an enduring vision of the depravity lurking just beneath the surface of bourgeois respectability.
And on the 21st of January, we’ll meet BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - a personal take on a classic fairy tale motif, heavily decorated with horror, romance, baroque costumes, and distinct, eerie Moravian and French landscapes and architecture. Released in 1978, this gloomy, dreamlike fantasy cemented Herz’s reputation as a maestro of the macabre and a talented conjuror of atmosphere.
THE CREMATOR
(1969, Czechoslovakia, Juraj Herz)
101 mins18
Karel, a mild-mannered crematorium worker, becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea of “cleansing” humanity through death, aligning his private rituals with the rise of Nazi ideology. As his moral compass erodes, he descends into madness, turning the people around him into victims of his delusional sense of duty.
A darkly comic and chilling horror, The Cremator blends psychological terror with surreal satire, offering a haunting meditation on complicity, obsession, and the banality of evil.
A darkly comic and chilling horror, The Cremator blends psychological terror with surreal satire, offering a haunting meditation on complicity, obsession, and the banality of evil.
Upcoming Screenings
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
(1978, Czechoslovakia, Juraj Herz)
91 mins15
A humble village girl becomes the captive of a grotesque Beast, a figure both terrifying and tragic. As she navigates his eerie, shadow-filled castle, fear gives way to curiosity and compassion, revealing the humanity hidden beneath his monstrous exterior.
A darkly gothic and visually striking fairy tale, Juraj Herz’s Beauty and the Beast blends horror and romance, exploring obsession, transformation, and the thin line between terror and tenderness.
A darkly gothic and visually striking fairy tale, Juraj Herz’s Beauty and the Beast blends horror and romance, exploring obsession, transformation, and the thin line between terror and tenderness.
Upcoming Screenings
No upcoming screenings
LITTLE OTIK + MYSTERY SHORTS
(2000, Czech Republic, Jan Švankmajer)
132 mins15
From the creator of “Alice” and “Faust” comes a most unusual baby…
When a childless couple learn that they cannot have children, it causes great distress. To ease his wife’s pain, the man finds a piece of root in the backyard, chops it, and varnishes it into the shape of a child. However, the woman takes the root as her baby and starts to pretend that it is real.
A pioneering Czech surrealist filmmaker, known for his unique, tactile stop-motion animation and live-action fusions that blend the mundane with the mystical, Jan Švankmajer presents the modern-day kitchen sink fairy horror tale, which tests the limits of obsessive parenting and failing social contracts. Complemented with several special short films, this night is your ticket to the world of Europe’s greatest weird genius.
A part of the ongoing Euroddity season, introduced by Misha Blahodir.
When a childless couple learn that they cannot have children, it causes great distress. To ease his wife’s pain, the man finds a piece of root in the backyard, chops it, and varnishes it into the shape of a child. However, the woman takes the root as her baby and starts to pretend that it is real.
A pioneering Czech surrealist filmmaker, known for his unique, tactile stop-motion animation and live-action fusions that blend the mundane with the mystical, Jan Švankmajer presents the modern-day kitchen sink fairy horror tale, which tests the limits of obsessive parenting and failing social contracts. Complemented with several special short films, this night is your ticket to the world of Europe’s greatest weird genius.
A part of the ongoing Euroddity season, introduced by Misha Blahodir.