Inspired by Gustave Doré’s engravings in the 1862 edition of Gottfried August Bürger’s book, Karel Zeman’s peerless Munchausen adaptation is a witty and beautiful succession of colour-tinted marvels of trick photography, perfectly aligned to the grand whimsy of the famed Baron’s (Miloš Kopecký) quicksilver flights of fancy. Zdeněk Liška’s score ranks amongst his greatest.

CaSFFA is delighted to be presenting Baron Munchausen in partnership with the Karel Zeman Museum and the Melbourne Cinémathèque. It will be preceded by Inspiration (dir: Karel Zeman, 1949, 11 mins). A frustrated fantasist (Zeman) looks out upon a rainy day, triggering a reverie featuring exquisite glass figurine animation, scored by Zdeněk Liška. 35mm print of Inspiration courtesy of the National Film Archive in Prague.