Actor, singer and cabaret artist Ferenc Futurista (the stage name adopted by František Fiala) was one of the pioneers of slapstick comedy in Czechoslovakian cinema. He was a much sought-after comedian known for his expressive acting style, but he also wrote and directed some films himself. As the feature film format began to flourish in the early 1920s, Futurista was also cast in dramatic roles. In 1923, Futurista made his first attempt at directing his own multi-reel feature, a serious drama with a heavy dose of fantasy about a scientist who successfully revives the corpse of a drowned girl. Futurista, who played the lead role of the scientist himself, cast several members of his family in the film as well: his father Karel Fiala, who also served as co-producer, his half-brother Eman Fiala, and his cousin, the acclaimed art director Ferdinand Fiala. It is the latter’s minimalist production design that appears to characterise the visual style of the now-lost film, judging by the preserved fragmentary footage and surviving production stills.

Jan Křipač