Sunday Morning Movie: Faust (1994) – 1h 32m + Bonuses!

Welcome, dear readers, to another exciting edition of Sunday Morning Movie! Today, we delve into the captivating world of Jan Švankmajer with his intriguing film, Faust:

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And don’t miss next week’s selection, Fire and Ice:

Reviews of Faust:

BFI shares:

Jan Švankmajer’s Faust marks his first feature-length film and is his most ambitious project since the adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in 1988. The film artfully blends puppetry, animated models, and live actors, creating a remarkable fusion of Eastern European marionette theatre with the life of post-communist Prague. Rather than portraying Faust as a conventional Romantic hero, Švankmajer suggests that the essence of the Faustian narrative exists for everyone within the chaos of our daily routines.

The Renaissance Collection comments:

While his work is not for the timid, there’s an undeniable charm in the visible seams that bind it all together. The abrupt movements of life-sized puppets and sculpted clay evoke the director’s theatrical roots; his understanding of performance transcends the screen, potentially unsettling viewers more than any of Švankmajer’s eerie creatures.

My thoughts: This film is quite the journey. It may feel slightly drawn out towards the end, but the experience is worthwhile. The alchemical lab scenes are particularly mesmerizing. Another masterpiece from Svankmajer, earning ⭐⭐⭐.

Director:

Jan Švankmajer

Writer:

Jan Švankmajer

Plot (Spoilers!):

The narrative unfolds in Prague with an unnamed man walking home who encounters two peculiar individuals who present him with a map.

Upon returning home, he discovers a black rooster waiting in his living room. After ushering the bird outside, he sits down for a meal and cuts into some bread, only to find an egg nestled inside. Surreal, isn’t it?

Things take an even stranger turn when he notices the two men gazing up at his window. Curious, he examines the map they gave him and decides to venture to the location marked.

Upon arriving, he finds himself in a dressing room where he adorns himself as a magician and adopts the name Faust, committing himself to the dark arts.

This leads him into a whirlwind of bizarre experiences, from alchemical laboratories to encounters with Mephistopheles and even inhabiting a puppet’s body. However, his fortunes take a downturn when he confronts Lucifer and flees the building, only to be struck down by a driverless red car.

Bonuses:

Mike Leigh Has Spent 50 Years Refusing to Compromise. He’s Not Starting Now.

Read more here.

Rusalochka (1968)
AKA The Little Mermaid

This breathtaking Soviet animated adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 tale follows Rusalochka, a water-dwelling maiden who sacrifices her voice for legs in pursuit of love with a human prince. The story artfully transitions between the monochromatic realm of Copenhagen—where tourists believe in love but not mermaids—and the vibrant underwater kingdom, all set to the haunting music of Aleksandr Lokshin.

Rusalochka (1968)

RUCKUS Jamaican Ska & Rocksteady

Terry Riley – Persian Surgery Dervishes – Full Album

“Persian Surgery Dervishes” features two live solo electric organ performances from 1971 and 1972, showcasing avant-garde minimalist composer Terry Riley’s revolutionary approach to improvisation using a modified Yamaha electric organ tuned in just intonation.

[LP] JIMMY ROGERS / TAT’S ALL RIGHT (full album)

1. SLOPPY DRUNK 0:00
2. GOLD TAILED BIRD 5:38
3. WALKING BY MYSELF 9:28
4. THAT’S ALL RIGHT 12:13
5. LUDELLA 15:52
6. I LOST 19:15
7. YOU ARE SO SWEET 24:17
8. THE LAST TIME 27:31
9. SHELBY COUNTRY 31:24
10. TRICKY WOMAN 34:28

BERNARD PARMEGIANI Espèces d’espaces

Composed in 2002 and premiered at Studio 104, Maison de la Radio on October 14, 2002 (Paris, France). Released in 2008 as part of the L’Œuvre Musicale En 12 CD collection from INA-GRM, France.

Alte Musik mit Posaunen und Zinken

Performed by the Josquin Ensemble Wien and Musica Antiqua Wien, featuring a range of compositions from the rich tapestry of early music.

3 HOURS of LATE 60s/EARLY 70s PSYCHEDELIC ROCK/BLUES ROCK/MUSIC TO GET STONED TO, ENJOY

Atom Heart Mother

[LP] Roumanian Folk Songs and Dances Volume No. 1 (Artia, 1959)

00:00 Ca la Breaza; Călușul oltenesc*
03:01 Ion Păturică (cobză) – Hora de la Clejani
04:41 Geamparalele (la 4 țambale)
06:04 Boiță Gănescu (nai) – Foaie verde ca lipanul; Sârba (de Fănică Luca)
08:22 Maria Lătărețu – Hora păcii
11:36 Hodoroaga; Cârligele
FAȚA B
15:06 Nicu Stănescu (vioară) – Călușarii, Ciocârlia*
18:04 Fănică Luca (nai) – Doina Oltului; Horă
21:11 Maria Lătărețu – Sanie cu zurgălăi
24:02 Ionel Budișteanu (vioară) – Munte, munte, brad frumos; Sârba lui Buică
27:18 Mugur, mugurel; Hora Șapte scări*

Performed by the Orchestra Institutului de Folklor (“Barbu Lăutaru”), conducted by Nicu Stănescu (for marked pieces) and Ionel Budișteanu (for the remainder).

THE FANTASY ILLUSTRATIONS OF THEODOR KITTELSEN HD 1080p

This video features a diverse range of sources, often conflicting, leading to some uncertainty regarding dates. Many pieces lack dates, requiring educated guesses. Despite its challenges, the visual quality and quantity of illustrations should compensate for these shortcomings.

James Joyce Reads From Finnegans Wake (includes text) Anna Livia Plurabelle

Enjoy a stunningly clear recording of James Joyce reading from the Anna Livia Plurabelle segment of his 1939 masterpiece, Finnegans Wake, accompanied by the text.

Why I Am Not a Christian by Bertrand Russell (1927)

This thought-provoking lecture was first delivered on March 6, 1927, before the National Secular Society, South London Branch, at Battersea Town Hall.

Here’s a breakdown of key topics:

• What Is a Christian? :05
• The Existence of God 2:58
• The First-cause Argument 4:05
• The Natural-law Argument 6:16
• The Argument from Design 10:30
• The Moral Arguments for Deity 13:32
• The Argument for the Remedying of Injustice 16:13
• The Character of Christ 18:23
• Defects in Christ’s Teaching 21:10
• The Moral Problem 23:24
• The Emotional Factor 28:15
• How the Churches Have Retarded Progress 31:10
• Fear, the Foundation of Religion 32:59
• What We Must Do 34:24

Logic: The Structure of Reason

Logic serves as a vital tool for understanding rational thought, integrating into various philosophical fields and sitting at the heart of mathematics and computer science. This program explores the evolution of logic, beginning with the basic syllogism and discussing topics such as propositional logic, Bayesian theory, Boolean logic, and more. Commentary from distinguished figures like Hilary Putnam, Kit Fine, and Colin McGinn enriches the discussion.

What Is Probability? Difficulties Understanding Probability

Professor David Wallace explores the nature of probability and the philosophical challenges in understanding it. He distinguishes between subjective probabilities, related to beliefs, and objective probabilities, pertaining to reality. He further examines various interpretations of probability and the complexities involved in each.

00:00 Concepts of Probability
01:04 Subjective Probability
02:14 More-Objective Probabilities
03:49 Very Objective Probabilities
05:52 Two Questions about Objective Probability
08:40 Frequentism
13:52 Probability from Symmetry
16:59 Probability as Primitive
18:10 The “Why” Question
20:10 The Principal Principle
24:43 A Dearth of Solutions to the Why Question

What Are Numbers? Philosophy of Mathematics (Elucidations)

This lecture delves into the essence of mathematics and our understanding of mathematical knowledge. It raises fundamental questions about the nature of numbers—are they discovered or invented? While pondering these queries, Daniel Sutherland examines the paradoxes that arise concerning the existence and understanding of mathematical concepts.

The History of Logic: The Logic of Aristotle

This collection features clips of Gabriele Giannantoni discussing Aristotelian logic, offering insights into one of the cornerstones of Western philosophy.

Philosophy of Mathematics & Frege – Michael Dummett (1994)

This audio recording captures a 1994 lecture by Michael Dummett on Frege and the philosophy of mathematics, marking a significant contribution to the field.

Squirrel dropkicks groundhog

Watch as a squirrel lunges at a juvenile groundhog, with a crow observing the unfolding drama.

Little gorillas fixate on a chameleon

What captivates these little ones from the Kwitonda group? A tiny chameleon moving across the ground! 🦎

The curious gorillas were gentle, merely observing the chameleon before it eventually wandered off safely. 🤗💛

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