TEHRAN- “Faust,” a 1994 drama film by Czech film director Jan Švankmajer, was reviewed during a session at the Cinematheque of the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) on Thursday.

The screening of the film was followed by a review session.

"Faust" is a unique cinematic adaptation of the legendary tale, blending live-action footage with surreal animated sequences to explore themes of temptation, morality, and human folly. The film is a collaborative international production, with support from the Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany.

"Faust" takes inspiration from both classical and folk traditions, weaving together elements from Goethe’s 1808–1832 play and Christopher Marlowe’s 16th-century tragedy, alongside traditional Czech folklore. 

The film’s narrative is infused with modernist and absurdist sensibilities, creating a Kafkaesque atmosphere that is both dark and humorous. Set against the backdrop of Prague, the city’s haunting architecture and moody streets serve as a fitting stage for the story’s allegorical journey. Although dark in tone, the film also incorporates humor, balancing despair with a sense of satirical wit.

The story opens on a bleak Prague morning, a stark contrast to the bustling, if mundane, activity of the city's commuters.  A nameless figure, played by Petr Čepek, emerges from a metro station, embodying the anonymity of the everyday citizen.  His seemingly ordinary day takes an unsettling turn with a chance encounter: two men distributing flyers, one of which is a peculiar map with a marked location.  The man, unfazed or perhaps uninterested, dismisses the flyer and heads back to his modest lodging.

His entrance is immediately punctuated by a jarring event – a black cockerel bursts from the doorway, an unexpected and unsettling omen.  This premonition foreshadows the ominous events to follow. Inside, within the confines of his small apartment, he discovers an unsettling anomaly: a loaf of bread containing an egg.  The discovery, though seemingly innocuous, takes a sinister turn when he cracks open the egg and finds it empty.  This act of emptiness, both literal and symbolic, foreshadows the void and uncertainty that will consume the story.

The scene escalates rapidly with a sudden and violent shift in the atmosphere.  Lights flicker erratically, the wind howls outside, and objects within the room begin to fly – a chaotic and unnerving display of forces beyond the man's control. The sudden and violent shift in the atmosphere suggests a disruption of the mundane, signaling the incursion of something extraordinary and potentially dangerous.  The man, caught in this maelstrom of disarray, looks out the window, witnessing the unsettling spectacle unfolding beyond his small apartment.  The scene is now fraught with foreboding, leaving the reader with a sense of anticipation and dread, wondering what the next act of the unfolding narrative will reveal.

The unsettling interplay between the mundane and the extraordinary is highlighted through the character's anonymity, the seemingly insignificant events, and the sudden eruption of chaos.  The empty egg, the black cockerel, and the erratic weather all contribute to a sense of foreboding, suggesting that something extraordinary and potentially dangerous is about to occur.  The story, now firmly established in a climate of unease, leaves the reader anticipating the revelation of the map's significance and the nature of the looming threat.

The film was shot on location in Prague’s historic Old Town, capturing the city’s atmospheric architecture, which enhances the film’s mystical and surreal qualities.

"Faust" was met with positive critical reception, earning a 73 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 11 reviews. It was praised for its inventive visuals, atmospheric storytelling, and philosophical depth. The film was showcased at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, highlighting its artistic importance. 

Additionally, it received awards at various festivals, including the Kecskemét Animation Film Festival where it won the Award of the Adult Audience, and the Czech Critics Award for Best Animated Film. It also garnered three Czech Lions and was nominated for four more. At the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, "Faust" was nominated for the prestigious Crystal Globe and won the Special Jury Prize, cementing its status as a significant work in Czech and international cinema.

SAB/