Invention for Destruction
Science fiction pushes the boundaries, explores the improbable, and envisions the future of humanity. It also exposes us to extravagant visual effects and the inventive power of cinema, reflecting our deepest fantasies. In cinema, science fiction is immersive, creating worlds suddenly within our reach. This summer, over one hundred films from the history of cinema will allow us to witness this!
Combining fiction, puppetry and animation, Zeman resurrects the world of Jules Verne, drawing on various fantastical motifs borrowed from the work of this great visionary writer.
Karel Zeman
Karel Zeman was a Czech animator and film director. He began his career in advertising, where he had his first experiences with animation. Co-directed with Hermína Týrlová, his first short film won Best Animation at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946. He then created the first in a series of humorous shorts featuring Mr. Prokouk, a puppet with a large nose symbolizing the ordinary citizen navigating everyday life. In 1955, Zeman directed his first film combining live-action performances, animation, and special effects—a small revolution in the world of animation. Four years later, he released his masterpiece, Invention for Destruction, opening up a new realm of possibilities that he explored in his other adaptations of Jules Verne's novels in the 1960s. Most of his films are known for appealing to a young audiences while also featuring a distinctive visual style and sophisticated spirit that captivate adults as well. The Karel Zeman Museum was founded in Prague in 2012 to honour his legacy.
