Jidlo

The master of horror. Not the cheap one with masses of special effects and make-up. Jan Svankmajer creates something absolutely authentic. He has a unique gift to turn ordinary things into something strange and often scary. The short film "Jidlo" (Food) was created as a stop motion picture with clay animation bits. It might be not the best movie by Svankmajer, but definitely one of those surreal, nightmarish ones that emotionally haunt their audience after watching.

His "Food" is a case when the brain leaks out of your head, still leaving a funny mixed feeling of disgust and delight. Reality in front of us breaks down and reveals sickening world that we often fail to notice. We are turning into robotic mechanisms devouring food in 'Breakfast', ready to consume each other in 'Lunch', and finally giving our best parts in 'Dinner'.

I had to re-watch the movie twice. First time, I had rampant laughters here and there, and was almost applauding to the maestro for such an elaborate prank in the very end. The second time happened to be more in depth: scenes didn't seem such a fun any more, more like a gruesome story of insatiable stomachs. Food flashing in the frames between the scenes became less and less attractive. And in the end, I even lost any trust to it. Food became a monster itself. Being conveyed through these three lines, it became nasty and nauseating.

Of course, Jan Svankmajer's creations are far not for all. He is one of those directors that can be watched only if there is a flow. Otherwise it is insanity.

Director Jan Svankmajer +10
Actors' performance +8
Plot Jan Svankmajer +10
Camera Svatopluk Maly +9

Design Jan Svankmajer +10

It's none of your business, but I'm listening to