Alice (1988)

A surrealistic revision of Alice in Wonderland.

Director:

Jan Svankmajer

Writers:

Lewis Carroll (novel), Jan Svankmajer

Stars:

Kristýna Kohoutová, Camilla Power

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kristýna Kohoutová	...	Alice

Storyline

A memorably bizarre screen version of Lewis Carroll's novel 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', mixing one live actor (Alice) with a large variety of stop-motion animated creatures, ranging from the complex (the White Rabbit) to the incredibly simple (the Caterpillar, consisting of a sock, a couple of glass eyes and a pair of false teeth). The original story is followed reasonably faithfully, though those familiar with this director's other films won't be the least bit surprised by the numerous digressions into Svankmajer territory, living slabs of meat and all. As the opening narration says, it's a film made for children... perhaps?

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Plot Keywords:

stop motion animation | alice in wonderland | parallel worlds | name in title | child protagonist | 

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Fantasy | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Jan Svankmajer had been disappointed by other adaptations of Carroll's book, which interpret it as a fairy tale. His aim was instead to make the story play out like an amoral dream.

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Goofs

In the outdoor scene when Alice cuts her finger, she is obviously missing a front tooth.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Alice: Alice thought to herself... Alice thought to herself 'Now you will see a film... made for children... perhaps... ' But, I nearly forgot... you must... close your eyes... otherwise... you won't see anything.

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Connections

Version of Alice (1990)

User Reviews

Imagery that Bores Inside

This movie may be labeled frustratingly plotless by some, and that's fair, but the imagery in this strange combination of stop-motion animation and live footage is so hauntingly rich and evocative that you get the feeling that someone has secretly filmed your own childhood dreams and translated them into Czech - perhaps for the viewing pleasure of the former commissars. The basic idea is that all of ALICE IN WONDERLAND is occurring in Alice's house, and a staggering variety of household items are animated into jerky sort of life, while all the character voices - Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, White Rabbit - are spoken by Alice. Alice's house, however, is a Czech house, and the items are old even by Soviet bloc standards. It's as if an antique rummage sale suddenly sprang to life to act out a monstrous little comedy for one girl. And the architecture is simultaneously comforting and frightening. Windows, for example, merely open onto other rooms, all lit by bare light bulbs. What keeps the thing tied to Lewis Carroll is the performance of the little girl playing Alice. She appears to be about six or seven, and despite the disturbing events going on around her, she never appears frightened, and always investigates events as they grow curiouser and curiouser with a determined pluck. This little girl is always in control. What this adaptation lacks in forward momentum or narrative drive it makes up for with a surreal poetry of the domestic space as dreamed by a child.

Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia Switzerland UK West Germany

Language:

Czech

Release Date:

1 November 1990 (Czechoslovakia)

Also Known As:

Alice

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, Condor Films, Hessischer Rundfunk (HR)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1