Vilém Čok

A darkly brilliant stop-motion adaptation of The Pied Piper of Hamelin about a plague of rats that punish townsfolk corrupt with greed. One of the most ambitious Czech animation projects of the 1980s, notable for its unusual dark art direction, innovative animation techniques and use of a fictitious language.

The story begins in 1984 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, few years before the end of Communist era. The band Pražský výběr (Prague's selection) has just received the news thier 5-year ban has expired and they are alowed to perform once again. This half fantasy half document about the band would draw the atmosphere of middle european late Communist era and the eufory of it's end.

In 1992, Prague is the capital of a small kingdom. The prince is supposed to choose his bride to be at a royal ball. But to everybody's surprise, he chooses an ugly cleaning-woman. She is shy and silent, but after the marriage she turns into a wild and rumbustious woman with an obstinate and stubborn mind. They both try to kill each other, but the queen is thrown into the dungeons.

Artistic rendering of a major concert by Pražský výběr at the O2 Arena with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.

A tale of a boy whose desire to correct human vices was stronger than the power of hell itself. Apolena, a herbalist, finds an abandoned newborn baby in a rye field. She names him Rye and raises him into a brave young man. Rye is recruited into the king's army and the king's evil advisor, Prince Neklan, orders him to collect taxes from his subjects. Rye learns first-hand how evil and unjust power can be and rebels against it. His sense of justice, joy of life and cleverness charm even Princess Adelka, but he also catches the eye of the devil Philistine, who would like to bring him to hell. So she disguises herself as the beautiful Marquise and tries to lure him to the benefits of evil: he will be rich and famous. But Rye cannot be lured. And so, in addition to Neklan, who is also trying to win Adelka, he must also fight against the power of hell itself.

In the film, the creative forces of personalities from three spheres of art collide. The subtitle "The Game of Love and Hate" refers to the motivation of an old Czech medieval satire, the theme belongs to Antonín Přidal, an expert on this subject. His collaboration with Juraj Herz created a collage of past and present, an updated, sharp satire and a parable about the clash of human qualities that could not but end up in the vault. The music of the Prague Selection - Michael Kocáb and Michal Pavlíček - also contributed to the film's offensive provocativeness - the film was one of the reasons for their complete move to the underground. The dancing chorus of medieval citizens resembles more of a jumble of long-haired maniacs, the edge of a contemporary dump intrudes into the space of a medieval marketplace, and the characters oscillate between the past and the present, whether in their appearance, symbolism or behaviour.

Every year, prominent actors from the animal kingdom gather on the magic carpet to present film awards. The lion king keeps order, and Bobo the platypus provides entertainment. His performances are interspersed with films called La Fontaine's fables. The organization runs smoothly, even though each performer's act has its own charm of awkwardness.