An initiative of the
Breathless. A Documentary Film Project /
Vùng biên giới. A Theatre Project with Rimini Protokoll /
rádio d-cz. A Radio Art Project /
Vùng biên giới. A Theatre Project with Rimini Protokoll /
rádio d-cz. A Radio Art Project /
The Phantom of Liberty II
by Karel Žalud (CZ 2009, 59 min)
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Camera: Tomáš Nováček
Editor: Petr Smělík
Music: Jiři Hradil
Sound editor: Jan Štindl
Production management: Lucie Pascu
Shooting format: super 16 mm
Production: Jiří Konečný / endorfilm s.r.o.
An experimental film about time which is comprised of several unrelated documentary scenes. Each fragment illustrates the subjective perception of time of its respective protagonists: a funeral director who transports coffins every day, aging actors who celebrate a birthday while on a train, or soldiers who practice a military operation. The stories are connected associatively, which brings to the fore the parallel nature of the different times in the film’s circular structure. Thematically the film explores time as a physical quantity which decisively influences our actions, behaviour, social rituals and overall outlook on the world, life, eternity or a single moment.
Director’s comment:
“The aim of the film is to show how in the so-called global age, man is caught in the trap of time which he has set for himself and got stuck in it along with his freedom. The Phantom of Liberty II explores the boundaries of creative filmmaking in an experimental manner.”
Mentor’s note:
“Karel Žalud is a stubborn filmmaker who refuses to see the world as others suggest. I cannot but like this quality of his work. His new project challenges the conventions of rational storytelling. Poetry is about a new meaning and it can be found by chance only. Just like Jean-Luc Godard talked about the divine chance in cinema!” (Susanna Helke, filmmaker, Finland/USA)
KAREL ŽALUD
Born in 1971. Studied at the Institute of Chemical Technology as well as film theory at Charles University, Prague. From 1997 till 2005 studied documentary film at FAMU – Film and TV School of the Academy of the Performing Arts, Prague. Works as scriptwriter, author of proposals, editor, and essayist, director of documentaries, feature films and commercials and sound designer in Prague. His films like Each and Everyone or Under the Siege are well-known for their idiosyncratic and highly creative approaches.
Filmography:
K službám(2002)
Malý průvodce architekta po vlastním úžasu (2001)
Holky z gymplu (1999)
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