The other Czech director to be honored at the festival is Jiri Menzel whose Larks on a String (1969) and Closely Watched Trains (1966) continue to be classics even though they were banned by the communist authorities. As a nod toward the increasingly popular medium of animation, the puppet animations of Jiri Trnka are also showcased, paying a debt of gratitude to a pioneer of the animated feature film. Classics like The Hand (1965), a powerful allegory about political oppression, while a million miles from Toy Story, has lost none of its power.
The sections which feature recent films from France and the Czech Republic are a godsend for local audiences who may have heard about these films picking up all kinds of important awards at film festivals around the world, but not having the chance to see them. Among these, the most anticipated include Jacques Rivette's Va Savoir and Laurent Cantet's Human Resources.
The presence of directors of the caliber of Cantet, Carax, Chytilova, Menzel, and others is an enormous treat for anyone interested in cinema. Screening times are available at bookstores and at the festival headquarters at the Chungshan Hall. Screenings will also be held at the Social Education Hall. Tickets are available at the door or through ERA ticketing. While all the films are subtitled in Chinese, many also have English subtitles as well.
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