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Czechoslovakia / 1958 / 81 min / complete digital restoration of the animation/sci-fi film, dir.Karel Zeman5:30 pm sreening
7 pm - 7: 45pm Q&A with Ludmila Zeman and Linda Zeman-Spaleny
Get ready for a cinematic experience like no other at Czech That Film 2024 - Invention for Destruction! Join us for a night of thrilling storytelling and captivating visuals. Discover the best of Czech cinema at this in-person event that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Czech legendary film and enjoy the talk with the daughter and granddaughter of the famous filmmaker.
In 1958, this film literally circled the globe. It was showered with prizes and became one of the most significant films of the 20th century. Among its many awards, it won the Grand Prix at the World Exposition EXPO 58 in Brussels. It is the first of several Zeman films inspired by the works of Jules Verne. The director tried a new artistic style to bring to life the black and white engravings made by the first illustrators of the Verne books, Édouard Riou and Leon Bennett. The story of the engineer Simon Hart takes place at a time when humanity was driven by a belief in inevitable progress. New inventions emerged like mushrooms after the rain and attracted criminals to abuse them...
Karel Zeman (1910 -1989) was a director, artist, animator, screenwriter, and in his time a futuristic filmmaker. Zeman was called the magician of the screen or the Czech Meliès. He made several short, medium, and feature films. The most famous ones are The Journey to the Beginning of Time, Invention for Destruction, The Fabulous Baron Munchausen, and The Stolen Airship. Karel Zeman made Czech cinematography of the 20th century famous worldwide. His filmmaking is still highly regarded today and his techniques are taught in film schools. The aesthetics of Zeman's work influenced a number of world filmmakers, for example, the director, artist, and member of the Monty Python group Terry Gilliam or the directors Tim Burton and John Stevenson.
Ludmila Zeman is Czech-Canadian filmmaker, author and illustrator – she is Karel Zeman’s daughter and was his close associate and the co-creator of several of his later films. Ludmila was an important contributor to the meticulous digital restoration of Karel Zeman’s films in Prague. She has received numerous awards for her children’s books (which include the Gilgamesh trilogy and the Sindbad trilogy), including the Governor General’s Literary award in Canada. She lives in Montréal.
Linda Zeman Spaleny is a lawyer in Toronto and together with her mother she works to sustain and expand the legacy of her grandfather’s films around the world. Together, Linda and Ludmila co-produced the documentary The Film Adventurer Karel Zeman (2015) and they co-wrote a detailed biography of Karel Zeman and his films entitled The Magical World of Karel Zeman. Together they have been a major driving force behind the creation and success of the Karel Zeman Muzeum in Prague – see: https://karelzemanmuseum.org/
Please reserve your seat on Eventbrite.
Film will be screened in Czech with English subtitles.
The entry is free, pay as you wish at cinema.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Alliance Française de Toronto, 24 Spadina Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2S7, Canada,Toronto, Ontario
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