Synopsis
A human body gradually reconstructs itself as its various component parts crowd themselves into a small room and eventually, after much experimentation, sort out which part goes where.
Darkness, Light, Darkness
1989 ‘Tma, Světlo, Tma’ Directed by Jan Švankmajer
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Alternative Titles
Pimeys, valo, pimeys, Тьма/Свет/Тьма, Oscuridad, luz, oscuridad, Obscurité, lumière, obscurité, Ciemnosc, swiatlo, ciemnosc, Sötétség, világosság, sötétség, Darkness Light Darkness
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A very creative short film from master of animation, Jan Svankmajer, that makes you think about just how strange the human body really is. If there's one thing that Svankmajer can brag about, it's that his films are like nothing else out there. Extraordinarily original stuff. Possibly the best and most thought-provoking claymation short I've ever seen (not that I've seen that many), which also has one of my favorite titles, and also one of my favorite cover photos.
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Wasn't expecting to see a man made of clay manually attach a dick and balls to his sexless crotch, but there ya go.
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It's been awhile Svankmajer.
This guy is one of the greatest creative minds in history and if you think otherwise I'll fucking disagree with you in a cordial manner.
The claymation is out of this world along with the exaggerated sound design and a little humor sprinkled in. My favorite being the awkward petting of the head.
The ending 360 shot of claustrophobia is breathtakingly gorgeous.
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It's only Febuary, but it's the second time this year I've seen a claymation d*ck.
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3rd Jan Švankmajer (after Dimensions of Dialogue and Alice)
Švankmajer gets his hands on the degenerate tools of the West (namely Plasticine) and the end result is thoroughly disturbing, like Wallace and Gromit on a ket bender. In the space of seven minutes, we see a man gradually assemble itself, from a single hand to the full body. The Plasticine models are exceptional, not only in the sheer magnitude of Švankmajer's ambition but also the complexity and craftsmanship of the models. Whole forearms are constructed from smooth Plasticine, with no indication of its origins. The highlight of this is the head smoothing its forehead out, a masterpiece of complex technique made to look easy.
But there is something uncanny about…
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Out of all of his short films I believe without a shadow of doubt that Darkness, Light, Darkness encapsulates everything stylistically, aesthetically, and thematically that represents Jan Svankmajer. This is his most epitomizing condensed work and the only way to get anymore of that Svankmajer brand of surrealism and oddity is to trek into his feature length territory.
As has been regarded by many and hailed just the same, Svankmajer's animation has never looked so naturally realistic while at the same time existing in a realm completely other worldly. The use of clay mixed with stop motion (claymation) creates much more vivid and fluid movement and Svankmajer's detail is impeccable. Another highly regarded element that I have seen praised of…
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The Weekly Animation Challenge 2018
Week 16: Jan Švankmajer
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A rather original comedy/fantasy short about dismembered body parts stopping by a house for a visit that repurposes the functionality of the human form to make what was once familiar now alien, while also being broad enough in its implications that there's plenty of room for metaphorical interpretations as well. The claymation is excellent, but the squishy and uncomfortable sound design is just as vivid and important to the experience. Did I mention it's all very funny too? -
Now, the stop motion genius shows the beautiful and intricate complexity of the human body in a way never seen before. One may argue that the comical moments are no more than random ideas put in there, but I say that's the current perception. I wonder what would have been the results if this had been about a woman's body...
96/100
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if i had a nickel for every time i have seen a claymation penis in a animated film exploring an abstract concept in an absurdist surreal horrifying way, i would have two nickels…which isn’t a lot but it’s weird it’s happened twice