A very free adaptation of Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus", Goethe's "Faust" and various other treatments of the old legend of the man who sold his soul to the devil. A nondescript man is lured by a strange map into a sinister puppet theatre, where he finds himself immersed in an indescribably weird version of the play, blending live actors, clay animation and giant puppets.
Practical Effects
Clay demons that move wrong on purpose. Uncanny mastery.
Direction
Švankmajer blurs actor and puppet until you can't tell.
Production
Decaying Prague locations breathe authentic medieval dread.
Director
Jan Švankmajer
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Švankmajer filmed in actual Prague locations the Soviets hadn't yet ruined, capturing a dying medieval city.
The puppet Faust and human Faust are never fully distinguished—Švankmajer suggests we're all somebody else's puppet.
CZ
