Jan Švankmajer at 85 years of age is one of the most prominent artists of European cinema. His work has inspired and guided generations of directors, and his work represents a sharp and merciless exploration of human nature which is entirely unique. When Švankmajer decided to stop filming after Insect (2018), his producer suggested that the creative processes which ferment within their film company Athanor should be preserved on film.

Over three years, the directors followed the life of Jan Švankmajer, elucidating his artistic principles, as well as his collaboration with old friend and producer Jaromír Kallista. The film is also haunted by the memory of Eva Švankmajerová, his wife and creative partner, muse and inseparable other half. Alchemical Furnace is shot on various film formats in combination with found footage. Playful and poetic, candid and with a touch of Czech humour, it is an ode to creation and to companionship.

Jan Daňhel studied editing at FAMU in Prague, where he now lectures. He is a member of the Group of Czech and Slovak Surrealists, a photographer and editor of a number of films, including Švankmajer’s Insect (2018).

Adam Oľha (cameraman, documentary filmmaker and photographer) studied at the Department of Documentary Filmmaking at FAMU. He also collaborated on Švankmajer’s Insect (2018) as a cameraman.

Athanor. The Alchemical Furnace.mkv

General
Container:  	Matroska
Runtime: 	1 h 57 min
Size: 	4.33 GiB
Video
Codec: 	h264
Resolution: 	1920x1080 
Aspect ratio:  	16:9
Frame rate: 	25.000 fps
Bit rate: 	5 145 kb/s
BPP: 	0.099
Audio
#1:  	2.0ch AAC LC @ 128 kb/s

https://nitro.download/view/5690CD2E25234FE/Athanor._The_Alchemical_Furnace.mkv

Language(s):English, Czech
Subtitles:English (hardsubs)

The post Jan Danhel & Adam Olha – Athanor: The Alchemical Furnace (2020) first appeared on Cinema of the World.