Czech artist Jiří Trnka (1912–1969) is the internationally revered master of puppet animation. Creator of magical worlds, his films are triumphant experiments in the expressive possibilities of the art form. Often borrowing from Czechoslovak folklore, while inventing new and novel techniques in stop-motion cinematography, his work elevated the puppet film into a vehicle for epic drama and fantastical storytelling.
This set brings together two of Trnka’s most beloved features: his breathtaking collection of Bohemian myths, Old Czech Legends (1953), and his debut, The Czech Year (1947), a hymn to the Czech lands and the shifting seasons. These two groundbreaking animations fuse innovative camera techniques, spellbinding design, and expressive puppetry. Each film is an enchanting example of Trnka’s art, that helped turn post-war Czechoslovakia into a powerhouse of animation.
Jiří Trnka: Puppet Master presents Old Czech Legends and The Czech Year from glorious 4K restorations by the Czech National Film Archive, and includes a rare archival documentary on Trnka, short films by Trnka and fellow writer and filmmmaker Jiří Brdečka, video essays by Evan Chester, and a booklet with writing by authors and experts on Czechoslovak cinema Peter Hames and Jonathan Owen - and more!
