Czech wizard Karel Zeman (1910-1989) was one of the most distinctive of fantasy filmmakers. His screen adventures combined live action, animation and fanciful set designs derived from 18th and 19th century engravings. In the matter of his Jules Verne adaptations, his dazzling effects often resembled watching an illustrated Victorian novel come to life. He was sometimes called the “Czech Méliès.”

In Prague there is a museum in his honor, and the Karel Zeman Museum is a partner in these beautiful new restorations, screened at the Rafael in their original Czech-language versions.

INVENTION FOR DESTRUCTION
SUNDAY, JUNE 3 • 4:15

NEW RESTORATION!

A worldwide hit that was released in the US as The Fabulous World of Jules Verne, this picaresque tale of an inventor exploited by pirates draws from several of Verne’s novels and is chock-full of fanciful “steampunk” creations, as director-animator Karel Zeman breathes life into the black and white engravings of Verne’s early illustrators. In Czech with English subtitles. (Czechoslovakia 1958) 78 min.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS, click the showtime on the date of your choice

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THE FABULOUS BARON MUCHAUSEN
SUNDAY, JUNE 3  •  7:00
THURSDAY, JUNE 7  •  7:00

NEW RESTORATION!

In adapting the whimsical 18th century book about the world’s most extraordinary liar, director-animator Karel Zeman took his inspiration from the 19th century engravings of Gustave Doré. Zeman adds lovely color effects and introduces a live-action astronaut (or cosmonaut?) who accompanies the boastful Baron back to earth from the moon. In Czech with English subtitles. (Czechoslovakia 1961) 83 min.

The digital restoration of the film ‘The Fabulous Baron Munchausen’ is a part of the project “Restoring The World of Fantasy”. Project partners are The Czech Film Foundation, The Karel Zeman Museum and Czech Television in cooperation with Universal Production Partners with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and with support of The Minister of Culture of Czech Republic Mgr. Daniel Herman.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS, click the showtime on the date of your choice

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