Jan Svankmajer-Otesánek ('Little Otik') (2000)

When a childless couple learn that they cannot have children, it causes great distress. To ease his wife's pain, the man finds a piece of root in the backyard and chops it and varnishes it into the shape of a child. However the woman takes the root as her baby and starts to pretend that it is real. When the root takes life they seem to have gained a child; but it's appetite is much greater than a normal child. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0228687/plotsummary)



The film is based on Czech fairy tale "Otesánek" ("Greedy Guts"). It is a story of a loving but childless couple, Karel and Bozena whose biggest dream is to have a baby. To make his wife smile, Karel digs up a tree root and carves it to look like a human baby. So overwhelming is Bozena's wish to become a mother that by its power, the stump transforms into a living creature with enormous appetites. Very soon, the baby formula and carrot soup are not enough to feet the little monster and mysteriously, people begin to disappear. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0228687/usercomments)



As with most comedy/horror films, the plot is fairly absurd. An infertile couple is desperate for a child. When the husband digs up a tree root vaguely resembling a child the woman loves it so much that it comes to life, and life begins to imitate a frightening fairly tale. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0228687/usercomments)


This film, as like the rest of Svankmajer's work is truly original and unique. It's a must see for anyone who's a fan of the surreal. The stop motion animation of the disturbing stump baby is incredible. A number of Svankmajer's work, including this and 'Faust', are retelling of old Czech fairy tales, and the films really capture the atmosphere of the great capital Prague. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0228687/usercomments)


Amusing, disturbing, consistently entertaining film. "Otesánek" is funny, most of all – part ironic fantasy and part low-key farce, even if there are genuine moments of pathos and horror. It's ultimately a satire in the vein of "Little Shop of Horrors" – more abstract, of course, and with babies and baby fever, rather than the American Dream, as the target of its love/hate approach. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0228687/usercomments)


While this movie has more dialogue than a typical Svankmeyer film, much of the story is still told through pictures rather than words. I found a lot of the pregnancy imagery to be pretty well-done, like the juxtaposition of pictures from the little girl's sex-ed book with footage of the father cutting down the tree which will become Otik. You don't realize the significance of that montage until after Otik is born, then it all makes sense. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0228687/usercomments)


Not so much a story about the drama and sadness that infertile couples go through-not a story about the psychological effect this may have to people longing for children but just a folktale that depicts a horrific outcome of the eagarness for parenthood. It is the darkness and irony that lies in the folktale itself that brings up feelings of disgust, sadness and quite frankly, bitterness for the unfair tortures that life brings. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0228687/usercomments)



The film has excellent cinematography, sound, props, sets and superb performances by the cast (particularly the little girl, Alzbetka). And of course there is the animation which is, as with any Svankmajer film, unique, organic, surreal and ever so slightly repulsive! (http://imdb.com/title/tt0228687/usercomments)



Rapidshare.de (12 * 100 MB + 20.41 MB)

http://rapidshare.de/files/32398480/Svankmajer-Otik.part01.rar
http://rapidshare.de/files/32402142/Svankmajer-Otik.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.de/files/32406199/Svankmajer-Otik.part03.rar
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http://rapidshare.de/files/32435846/Svankmajer-Otik.part11.rar
http://rapidshare.de/files/32438901/Svankmajer-Otik.part12.rar
http://rapidshare.de/files/32439437/Svankmajer-Otik.part13.rar

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Links to my previous 65 movie posts can be found here :
Movie links 1 to 65 (12 KB text file @RS)

66 Andrzej Wajda-Ashes and Diamonds (1958)
67 Eric Rohmer-Ma nuit chez Maud (1969)
68 Henning Carlsen-Hunger ('Svält') (1966)
69 Ermanno Olmi-L'Albero degli zoccoli (1978)
70 Eric Rohmer-Le Genou de Claire (1970)
71 Jean-Luc Godard-Sauve qui peut (la vie) (1979)
72 Alain Resnais-La Guerre est finie (1966)
73 Jean-Luc Godard-Charlotte et Véronique (1959)
74 Nelson Pereira dos Santos-Vidas Secas (1963)
75 Jan Svankmajer-Otesánek ('Little Otik') (2000)