Magic Is Not Only in Fairy Tales
Magic and sorcery can solve any seemingly intractable problem. A magical whistle will help defeat the stubborn king, and a devil’s magic will help protect grandfather against an evil prince. But when magic wanders outside of fairy tales, it can make things really complicated. A magic pot that Grandpa accidentally dug up in the garden magically multiplies whatever is put into it. But  what if Grandpa himself falls into the pot? Then an inventive Grandma has to resolve the situation.

The World of Toys
What do toys actually do when they are alone? Maybe Ole-Luk-Oie wakes them up every night with his magic umbrella to show him the wide range of their skills. Whether they are made of wood, paper, glass, textile or even soap foam, they won’t spoil any fun. Like children, toys can sometimes be shy, restless, capricious, inquisitive or even angry. Hermína Týrlová and Břetislav Pojar brought toys to life in their films to celebrate the joy of play.

Michaela Mertová

• 40 dědečků (Forty Grandfathers, Czechoslovakia/1962) R.: Václav Bedrˇich. D.: 8’
• Paraplíčko (The Little Umbrella, Czechoslovakia/1957) R.: Brˇetislav Pojar. D.: 15’
• Píšťalka (The Whistle, Czechoslovakia/1971) R.: Hermína Týrlová. D.: 13’
• Přírodopis v cylindru (Biology in Top-Hat, Czechoslovakia/1967) R.: Božena Možíšová. D.: 9’
• Poplach na hradě (Uproar at the Castle, Czechoslovakia/1984) R.: Bohumil Šejda. D.: 7’

Introduced by Michaela Mertová (Národní filmový archiv)