Faust
Also known as: Lesson Faust, Jan Svankmajer's Faust
- Studio
- Athanor, British Broadcasting Corporation, Centre National de la Cinématographie, Heart of Europe Prague K Productions, Kominsk, Lumen Films, Pandora Cinema
- Distributor
- Lucernafilm - Beta, Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu, Kino International, Zeitgeist Films
Synopsis
Czech animator Jan Svankmajer presents a unique interpretation of the centuries-old narrative in this surrealistic synthesis of images and references to Marlowe, Goethe and various traditional folk tales. Comprised of live action, claymation, puppetry and stop-motion animation, the film blends bits of traditional content with an exciting visual tableau to create a wildly evocative tale of human desire and the price of will. The retelling of the Faust story is not literal, but a fusion of the many versions of the Faust myth dealing with selling one's soul to the devil. Svankmejer's approach is at the same time humorous and grotesque.
Characters
(Live Action) Faust, Dancers, Puppets
Credits
Directing
- Director
- Jan Svankmajer
Producing
- Producer
- Jaromír Kallista
- Executive Producers
- Karl Baumgartner, Keith Griffiths, Michael Havas, Hengameh Panahi
- Executive Producer (BBC)
- Colin Rose
Writing
- Writer
- Jan Svankmajer
- Based On The Novel By
- Christian Dietrich Grabbe
- Based On The Play Faust By
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe
- Based On The Play "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus" By
- Christopher Marlowe
Voices
- Voice
- Stanislava Babická (Dancer), Lenka Havránková (Dancer), Magda Horejsová (Dancer), Petra Hrstková (Dancer), Vera Masopustová (Dancer), Josef Podsedník (Puppet), Jaroslava Zelenková (Puppet), Jan Kraus, Vladimír Kudla, Antonin Zacpal, Jirí Suchý, Viktorie Knotková, Jana Mézlová, Miluse Straková, Josef Fiala, Martin Radimecký, Ervín Tomendál, Frantisek Polata, Josef Chodora, Karel Vidimský, Petr Meissel, Rudolf Ruzek, Milan Vyskocil, Pavel Marek, Dalibor Fencl, Robert Blanda, Michaela Tyllerová, Vendula Pecová, Berenika Strettiová, Zita Morávková, Gillian Wood, Zuzana Drazilová, Karel Hamr, Zbynek Mayer, Karel Vild, Martin Kublák, Monika Chlustinová, Jirí Liska, Joseph Vedral, Václav Svankmajer, Pavel Valenta
- Vocal Talent (English Version)
- Andrew Sachs
Editing
- Editor
- Marie Zemanová
Crew
- Art Directors
- Jan Svankmajer, Eva Svankmajerová
- Props
- Jirí Bláha, Zdenek Hlavácek, Jaromír Krýze, Milan Kvak, Karel Vanásek
- Set Decoration
- Petr Bruna, Milos Chlustina, Martin Kalous, Tomás Kalous
- Costume Design
- Ruzena Bláhová
- Makeup Artists
- Jirina Bisingerová, Eva Capková, Václav Frank, Tomás Kuchta
- Background Artist
- Jirí Cihák
- Animator
- Bedrich Glaser
- Assistant Animators
- Ondrej Beránek, Martin Kublák
- Cinematography
- Svatopluk Malý
- Camera Operator
- Frantisek Spilka
- Lighting Technicians
- Jirí Liska, Evzen Simera, Petr Stejskal
- Production Design
- Jan Svankmajer, Eva Svankmajerová
- Editor
- Marie Zemanová
- Assistant Editor
- Jan Danhel
- Music Assistants
- Olga Jelínková, Zbynek Mateju
- Musician (Drum Solo)
- Alan Vitous
- Sound Assistants
- Marek Hart, Mstislav Pilný, Pavel Spatný
- Sound Effects
- Petr Mach, Jaroslav Schreder, Karel Süssmilch
- Sound
- Ivo Spalj
- Dialogue Editor (English Version)
- Alan Brett
- Dubbing Mixer (English Version)
- George Foulgham
- Puppets
- Jirí Bláha, Zdenek Hlavácek, Jaromír Krýze, Milan Kvak, Karel Vanásek
- Production Assistants
- Jana Bocková, Miloslav Cerny, Zdena Cerná, Martin Douba, Petr Kasík, Michal Kolman, Jan Kopecký, Vlasta Koudelková, Jan Lím, Václav Rouha, Petr Skrivánek, Zdenek Suchý, Jan Sír, Marie Turecková, Jirí Zavázal
- Dialogue Director (English Version)
- George Roubicek
- Language Adaptation
- Jirí Strach
- Choreographer
- Daria Voborníková
- Special Thanks (Puppet Collection)
- Jiri Vorel
- Play
- Czech Folk Puppeteers
Companies and other credits
- English Version: Videolondon Sound Studios
Production notes
Release date is for the United Kingdom. Screened on September 10, 1994 at the Toronto International Film Festival. Released in the Czech Republic on September 29, 1994.
Awards
Kristian, Best Animated Film, Jan Svankmajer, Czech Critics Awards, 1995.
Czech Lion, Best Actor, Petr Cepek, 1995.
Czech Lion, Best Design Achievement, Jan Svankmajer and Eva Svankmajerová, 1995.
Czech Lion, Best Sound, Ivo Spalj, 1995.
Nominee, Czech Lion, Best Director, Jan Svankmajer, 1995.
Nominee, Czech Lion, Best Editing, Marie Zemanovám, 1995.
Nominee, Czech Lion, Best Film, Jaromír Kallist, 1995.
Nominee, Czech Lion, Best Screenplay, Jan Svankmajer, 1995.
International Fantasy Film Award, Best Special Effects, Jan Svankmajer, Fantasporto, 1995.
Nominee, International Fantasy Film Award, Best Film, Jan Svankmajer, Fantasporto, 1995.
Special Prize of the Jury (Tied), Jan Svankmajer, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, 1994.
Nominee, Crystal Globe, Jan Svankmajer, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, 1994
Czech Lion, Best Actor, Petr Cepek, 1995.
Czech Lion, Best Design Achievement, Jan Svankmajer and Eva Svankmajerová, 1995.
Czech Lion, Best Sound, Ivo Spalj, 1995.
Nominee, Czech Lion, Best Director, Jan Svankmajer, 1995.
Nominee, Czech Lion, Best Editing, Marie Zemanovám, 1995.
Nominee, Czech Lion, Best Film, Jaromír Kallist, 1995.
Nominee, Czech Lion, Best Screenplay, Jan Svankmajer, 1995.
International Fantasy Film Award, Best Special Effects, Jan Svankmajer, Fantasporto, 1995.
Nominee, International Fantasy Film Award, Best Film, Jan Svankmajer, Fantasporto, 1995.
Special Prize of the Jury (Tied), Jan Svankmajer, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, 1994.
Nominee, Crystal Globe, Jan Svankmajer, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, 1994