Step into the wildly inventive world of Karel Zeman's Baron Prášil, a Czechoslovak fantasy adventure from 1962 that stands as the director’s playful masterpiece. With a blend of live‑action and stylized animation—tinted and textured like Gustave Doré engravings—it reimagines the legendary Baron Munchausen as he gallivants across the Moon, sails to Turkey, gets swallowed by a whale, flies on a Roc, rides a cannonball, and rescues Princess Bianca (Jana Brejchová). Each sequence bursts with surreal artistry and joyous whimsy, as cinematic sets swirl between paper‑cut backdrops, puppetry, and imaginative visual effects.
Lead by Miloš Kopecký’s bombastic Baron and joined by Rudolf Jelínek’s wide‑eyed astronaut Tony, the narrative sparkles with comedic rivalry, romance, and impossible feats. Zeman transforms classic tall tales into a vivid, dreamlike journey—an homage to early cinema visionaries like Méliès and a direct inspiration for Terry Gilliam’s later Baron Munchausen.
With a runtime just over 80 minutes and a charm that delights both children and cinephiles, Baron Prášil remains one of the most visually daring and affectionately crafted fantasy films of its era.
Screening Schedule
20.8.2025, 20:00 - Herzeliya Cinematheque
24.08.2025, 18:00 - Jerusalem Cinematheque
27.8.2025, 18:15 - Haifa Cinematheque
28.8.2025, 18:00 -Tel Aviv Cinematheque
*For tickets please contact cinematheque in your city
