The Pied Piper & Jiří Barta Shorts - Deluxe Limited Edition - Blu-ray

DELUXE LIMITED EDITION (2000 UNITS)

THE PIED PIPER (KRYSAŘ)
1986 • Czechoslovakia • 53 min.

Director Jiří Barta’s stop-motion animated masterpiece, inspired by the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, unfolds in a dark medieval village of narrow streets and strange Gothic arches. The stylized setting evokes elements of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and the detailed visual atmosphere of Jan van Eyck.

The money-obsessed citizens, carved from wooden blocks and speaking in an onomatopoeic babble, resemble exaggerated caricatures, sometimes spouting coins from their mouths instead of words. In contrast, the rats are portrayed as more organic creatures, tunneling beneath the towering arches and cobblestone streets of the town above.

Fans of fellow Czech animation legend Jan Švankmajer and the Brothers Quay will appreciate Barta’s striking Expressionist work. The film has been newly restored by Deaf Crocodile for its first U.S. Blu-ray release, in association with Krátký Film Praha and Comeback Company.

This Deluxe 2-Disc Edition also includes seven restored Barta short films, director interviews, a new visual essay, and additional features.

“Barta’s mastery of all aspects of filmmaking are evident: staging, production design, lighting, animation, editing, sound and music combine into dark worlds with ironic conclusions.” – Phil Tippett (Mad God)

Special Features

Disc One

• THE PIED PIPER feature, restored by Craig Rogers for Deaf Crocodile
• THE VANISHED WORLD OF GLOVES (1982, 16 min.) – An imaginative tour through cinema history told through animated gloves
• CHRONICLE OF THE PIED PIPER (1985, 13 min.) – Behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the film (Czech with English subtitles)
• Video interview with director Jiří Barta, moderated by Dennis Bartok (Deaf Crocodile)
• Audio commentary by Czech film expert Irena Kovarova (Comeback Company) and film critic/historian Peter Hames

Disc Two

Six Jiří Barta short films, newly restored by Deaf Crocodile:

• RIDDLES FOR A CANDY (1978, 8 min.) – In Barta’s debut short, a fantastical creature must solve riddles presented by a magical book
• DISC JOCKEY (1980, 10 min.) – Everyday objects form the basis of a satirical look at modern life
• THE DESIGN (1981, 6 min.) – An apartment block comes to life on a drafting board in Barta’s critique of modern housing
• A BALLAD ABOUT GREEN WOOD (1983, 11 min.) – A poetic short exploring the mysteries of earth, sky, stone, wood, and snow
• THE LAST THEFT (1987, 21 min.) – A ghostly tale of a thief exploring an abandoned mansion
• THE CLUB OF THE LAID OFF (1989, 25 min.) – A stop-motion film set in a decaying apartment where wooden mannequins imitate human life

Additional Features:

• New video interview with Jiří Barta about his short films, moderated by Dennis Bartok
• New visual essay narrated by Irena Kovarova and Peter Hames, edited by Ryan Verrill (Someone’s Favorite Productions)
• New artwork by Beth Morris
• Blu-ray authoring by David Mackenzie (Fidelity In Motion)

Limited Deluxe Edition Bonus Content

• Slipcase featuring new artwork by Brian Level
• 60-page illustrated book
• New essay by film historian Jonathan Owen
• New essay by critic and author Walter Chaw
• Essay on The Pied Piper by Czech film expert Irena Kovarova

Limited Edition of 2000 units