MURDEROUS TALES

Welcome to Jan Bubeníček’s zany world of animation, puppetry, and special effects. MURDEROUS TALES contains three separate stories, each showing off the creativity of this rookie director. It begins with the tale of a young man who inherits a strange Mexican cactus and apartment from his deceased grandfather. While he always thought his grandpa was crazy, living in his place provides him the opportunity to learn the truth. Let’s just say there’s more to the cactus than meets the eye. Bubenícˇek follows it up with a tiny professor coming to terms with using animal slaughter for scientific purposes. The depth of the plot is definitely not your standard animated fare. In the final chapter, two knucklehead hitmen embark on a mission that goes horribly awry. Their shenanigans provide a plethora of laughs against the backdrop of impressive visuals. In addition to these stories, the film also features a series of interludes where a dim-witted knight desperately looks for new ways to defeat a dragon. These short pieces unite a common David & Goliath theme in Bubenícˇek’s imaginative creations. (In Czech with subtitles) —E.F.