
The Cabinet of Jan Švankmajer
In Prague, a professorial puppet, with metal pincers for hands and an open book for a hat, takes a boy as a pupil. First, the professor empties fluff and toys from the child's head, leaving him without the top of his head for most of the film. The professor then teaches the lad about illusions and perspectives, the pursuit of an object through exploring a bank of drawers, divining an object, and the migration of forms. The child then brings out a box with a tarantula in it: the professor puts his "hands" into the box and describes what he feels. The boy receives a final lesson about animation and film making; then the professor gives him a brain and his own open-book hat.
Top Billed Cast
Featured Crew

Keith Griffiths
Director

Stephen Quay
Director

Timothy Quay
Director

Stephen Quay
Director of Photography

Keith Griffiths
Producer

Timothy Quay
Director of Photography
Zdeněk Liška
Music