The Hand (1965 film)

The Hand
Directed by Jiří Trnka
Written by Jiří Trnka
Music by Václav Trojan
Distributed by Krátký Film Praha
Release date
 1965
Running time
 18 minutes
Country Czechoslovakia
Language Czech

The Hand (Czech: Ruka) is a 1965 Czechoslovak stop motion puppet animation film directed by Jiří Trnka. It was Trnka's final film. Critics and viewers declared praised The Hand as one of the best animated shorts of all time. [1] [2] [3]

The Film was first released in 1965. When Trnka died in 1969, the film was banned due to its story that reflects a restrictive environment in which many artists had to work.[4]

Plot

The film features a conflict between a powerless Harlequin and a powerful Hand. Harlequin is an artist who makes Sculptures. He is commanded by The Hand to make only sculptures of Hand but Harlequin decides to resist the Hand as he wishes to make ceramic pots for his flowers. The Hand tries to change his mind by threatening him, manipulating him or making him troubles.

The Hand eventually catches Harlequin by a trick and locks him in a cage where he makes the ordered Statue. The Hand rewards him with medals and laurels, but he becomes sad and decides to escape. He brings down the statue and makes a hole in the cage. He jumps out of the cage and runs away while being chased by the Hand. As he runs, he throws away all of his medals and laurels. He gets home in the end and barricades himself there. As he barricades a closet, a pot with a flower falls on him. Harlequin falls to the floor and sees his beloved flowers as he dies. When the Hand gets into the House, Harlequin is already dead. The Hand uses the closet as a coffin for Harlequin and makes a pompous funeral for him.

Legacy

Jiří Trnka Memorial that was unveiled in Plzeň on 17 November 2015, commemorates The Hand.[5]

Time Out listed The Hand in its list of top 10 best drama animated shorts on the second place.[6]

Awards

List of awards received by The Hand:[7]

  • Jury Special Prize, Annecy, 1965
  • First Prize in Category of Cartoons, Bergamo, 1965
  • Silver Prize, Melbourne, 1966
  • Best Film of All Festival Years (Award from Critics), Annecy, 1990

References

  1. ↑ 250 Great Animated Shorts: The List-IndieWire
  2. ↑ "Cartoons Considered For An Academy Award 1966 -". cartoonresearch.com.
  3. ↑ Jiri Trnka · Puppet Animation Master (documentary, 1967)-Internet Archive
  4. ↑ O’Brian, Bennett. "Pretty Clever Films". Jirí Trnka’s The Hand (1965). Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  5. ↑ Kolářová, Kamila. "Borský park obohatil památník Jiřího Trnky". Info.ZCU.cz. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "The 30 best animated short films ever made". Time Out New York. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  7. ↑ "Ruka". The Big Cartoon Database. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
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