Surviving Life
Encyclopedia
Surviving Life is a 2010 Czech comedy film by Jan Švankmajer
, starring Václav Helšus, Klára Issová
and Zuzanna Kronerova. The film uses a mix of cutout animation
from photographs and live-action segments, and tells the story of a married man who lives a double life in his dreams, where he meets another woman. It premiered out of competition at the 67th Venice International Film Festival
.
and UPP. It received eight million korun
from the Czech State Fund for Support and Development of Cinematography and around six million korun from Eurimages
. Additional support was granted by the MEDIA Programme. The production involved a total budget of 35 million korun. Animation work was done by an international team at Švankmajer's studio in Knovíz
, just outside Prague.
. It was subsequently shown at several festivals including the London Film Festival. Bontonfilm released it in the Czech Republic on 4 November 2010.
called Švankmajer a "grand master not just of innovative animation techniques but of life itself", and wrote that the director "is at the height of his filmmaking powers as director, artistic director and storyteller here." Young also noted, however, that the film's complex narrative and unconventional imagery "will not be everyone's cup of tea." Variety
s Leslie Felperin complimented the chemistry between Helšus and Issová, and noted how the film was more similar to Czech mainstream comedies than what normally would be expected from the director: "For all the grotesquerie on display (and there's hardly anything here as disturbing as Svankmajer's imagery in Alice
from 1988), pic feels much lighter in tone than the helmer's last few films, such as Lunacy
, Greedy Guts
(aka Little Otik), or Conspirators of Pleasure."
Švankmajer won the Czech Lion
for Best Art Direction for the film. It was also nominated for Best Director and Best Sound.
Jan Švankmajer
Jan Švankmajer is a Czech filmmaker and artist whose work spans several media. He is a self-labeled surrealist known for his surreal animations and features, which have greatly influenced other artists such as Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, the Brothers Quay, and many others.- Life and career :Jan...
, starring Václav Helšus, Klára Issová
Klára Issová
Klára Issová , sometimes known as Klára Issa, is a Czech film, stage and television actress. She is daughter of Syrian director Michel Issa, she is cousin of actress Martha Issová. Klára studied Conservatory...
and Zuzanna Kronerova. The film uses a mix of cutout animation
Cutout animation
Cutout animation is a technique for producing animations using flat characters, props and backgrounds cut from materials such as paper, card, stiff fabric or even photographs...
from photographs and live-action segments, and tells the story of a married man who lives a double life in his dreams, where he meets another woman. It premiered out of competition at the 67th Venice International Film Festival
67th Venice International Film Festival
The 67th annual Venice Film Festival held in Venice, Italy, took place from September 1 to September 11, 2010. American film director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino was head of the Jury. John Woo was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement prior to the start of the Festival...
.
Cast
- Václav Helšus as Evžen and Milan
- Klára IssováKlára IssováKlára Issová , sometimes known as Klára Issa, is a Czech film, stage and television actress. She is daughter of Syrian director Michel Issa, she is cousin of actress Martha Issová. Klára studied Conservatory...
as Evženie - Zuzana Kronerová as Milada
- Emília Došeková as super-egoId, ego, and super-egoId, ego and super-ego are the three parts of the psychic apparatus defined in Sigmund Freud's structural model of the psyche; they are the three theoretical constructs in terms of whose activity and interaction mental life is described...
- Daniela Bakerová as Dr. Holubová
- Marcel Němec as colleague
- Jan Počepický as antiquarian
- Jana Oľhová as prostitute
- Pavel Nový as janitor
- Karel Brožek as boss
- Miroslav Vrba as Fikejz
Production
The film was co-produced by Athanor and the Slovak company C-GA Film, with participation of Česká televizeCeská televize
Česká televize is the public television broadcaster in the Czech Republic, broadcasting four channels.- Czechoslovak Television :Television in Czechoslovakia started to take its first steps before World War II. However, before visible results could be achieved, all activities were interrupted by...
and UPP. It received eight million korun
Czech koruna
The Czech koruna or Czech crown has been the currency of the Czech Republic since 8 February 1993 when, together with its Slovak counterpart, it replaced the Czechoslovak koruna at par....
from the Czech State Fund for Support and Development of Cinematography and around six million korun from Eurimages
Eurimages
Eurimages is the Council of Europe fund for the co-production, distribution, exhibition and digitisation of European cinematographic works. It aims to promote the European film industry by encouraging the production and distribution of films and fostering co-operation between professionals....
. Additional support was granted by the MEDIA Programme. The production involved a total budget of 35 million korun. Animation work was done by an international team at Švankmajer's studio in Knovíz
Knovíz
Knovíz is a village and municipality in Kladno District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is located about 25 km northwest of Prague and 4 km southeast from Slaný. The municipality covers an area of 4.23 km² and as of 2006 it had a population of 515. Knovíz...
, just outside Prague.
Release
Surviving Life premiered on 7 September 2010 out of competition at the 67th Venice International Film Festival67th Venice International Film Festival
The 67th annual Venice Film Festival held in Venice, Italy, took place from September 1 to September 11, 2010. American film director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino was head of the Jury. John Woo was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement prior to the start of the Festival...
. It was subsequently shown at several festivals including the London Film Festival. Bontonfilm released it in the Czech Republic on 4 November 2010.
Reception
Deborah Young of The Hollywood ReporterThe Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
called Švankmajer a "grand master not just of innovative animation techniques but of life itself", and wrote that the director "is at the height of his filmmaking powers as director, artistic director and storyteller here." Young also noted, however, that the film's complex narrative and unconventional imagery "will not be everyone's cup of tea." Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
s Leslie Felperin complimented the chemistry between Helšus and Issová, and noted how the film was more similar to Czech mainstream comedies than what normally would be expected from the director: "For all the grotesquerie on display (and there's hardly anything here as disturbing as Svankmajer's imagery in Alice
Alice (1988 film)
Alice is a 1988 Czechoslovak film directed by Jan Švankmajer. Its original Czech title is Něco z Alenky, which means "Something from Alice". It is a free adaptation of Lewis Carroll's first Alice book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, about a girl who follows a white rabbit into a bizarre fantasy...
from 1988), pic feels much lighter in tone than the helmer's last few films, such as Lunacy
Lunacy (film)
Lunacy is a 2005 Czech film by Jan Švankmajer. The film is loosely based on two short stories, "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether" and "The Premature Burial", by Edgar Allan Poe. It is also partly inspired by the works of the Marquis de Sade...
, Greedy Guts
Little Otik
Little Otik , also known as Greedy Guts, is a 2000 Czech film by Jan Švankmajer and Eva Švankmajerová. Based on the folktale "Otesánek" by K J Erben, the film is a comedic live action, stop motion-animated feature film set mainly in an apartment building in the Czech Republic.The film uses the...
(aka Little Otik), or Conspirators of Pleasure."
Švankmajer won the Czech Lion
Czech Lion
The Czech Lion awards are annual awards that recognize accomplishments in filmmaking and television. It is the highest award of achievement in film awarded in the Czech Republic...
for Best Art Direction for the film. It was also nominated for Best Director and Best Sound.
External links
- Surviving Life at Bontonfilm's website