Blu-Ray BD50 / 1080p / 24fps / Region ABC
RRP: £19.99
Release Date: 20 February 2023
SRBD 059
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Vojtěch Jasný's sumptuous, surreal satire is one of the most visually inventive and uninhibited films of the Czechoslovak New Wave.
A travelling circus and its magical feline mascot arrive in a provincial Czech town, unleashing mayhem as they expose the virtues, vices and desires of its unruly inhabitants.
Part modern fairy tale, part colourful political metaphor, The Cassandra Cat (also known as When the Cat Comes) is a unique, glorious comic fantasy. Now newly restored in 4K, this Cannes award-winner makes its world premiere on Blu-ray.
Our Blu-ray also includes the acclaimed and delightful animated short film Badly Painted Hen by Jiří Brdečka, co-writer of The Cassandra Cat, plus a newly recorded Projection Booth commentary and a booklet with new writing by Cerise Howard.
• Presented from an HD transfer of the new 4K restoration by the Czech National Film Archive.
• A newly-recorded Projection Booth audio commentary with Mike White, Spencer Parsons and Chris Stachiw.
• Badly Painted Hen (Špatně namalovaná slepice, 1963):
the acclaimed animated short film by artist Jiří Brdečka, co-writer of The Cassandra Cat.
• Trailer.
• 24-page booklet with an expansive new essay by curator and author Cerise Howard.
• Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
• New and improved English subtitles.
• World premiere release on Blu-ray.
Directed by Vojtěch Jasný
Screenplay - Jiří Brdečka, Vojtěch Jasný, Jan Werich
Cinematography - Jaroslav Kučera
Music - Svatopluk Havelka
Production design - Oldřich Bosák, Bohumil Nový
Editor - Jan Chaloupek
Visual effects - Jaroslav Kučera, Vladimír Dvořák
Second unit director - Ivan Passer
Second camera - Miroslav Ondříček
Main Cast
Jan Werich - Oliva / Magician
Emília Vášáryová - Diana
Vlastimil Brodský - Robert
Jiří Sovák - Headmaster
Vladimír Menšík - Caretaker
Jiřina Bohdalová - Julie
Karel Effa - Janek
Vlasta Chramostová - Marjánka
Vojtěch Jasný's acclaimed films
Desire and All My Good Countrymen
are available in a special 2-disc Blu-ray SE edition.
Many other gems of Czechoslovak and international
cinema are also available on Second Run.
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1963 Cannes Film Festival /
Winner: Jury Prize
“Jasný is the spiritual father of the Czech New Wave”
Miloš Forman
“Charm, artistry and daring... The film is beautifully photographed... Jasny's technique is both subtle and dramatic” New York Times
“A gloriously goofy fairy tale [...] Jasný always keeps the tone light to the point of levitating. A treat” Time Out
“The Cassandra Cat marked a significant step in Jasný's bold evolution: In the extended parable, a circus cat magically colour-codes a town's inhabitants according to their tendencies as liars, lovers, and so on. Though explainable in terms of folktales and children's stories, the film is also a provocative thought experiment and displayed Jasný's imaginative lens work, which he used to obtain the musical-esque color effects” The New York Sun
“A colourful fantasy, satirical and gentle, combining technical perfection with the originality of the theme” L'Humanité
“A dazzlingly brilliant comical fantasy [...] Hilarious, the film is also poignant - politically and romantically. Few essential films are as delightfully entertaining as this one is” Dennis Grunes
“A delightfully charming satirical fantasy. A feast of colour, movement and imagination, it still finds time to poke holes in the facade of socialist Czechoslovakia... it’s hard not to fall for its charms” Blueprint Review