Brothers Quay Collection-Astonishing Short Films DVD

Nothing can prepare you for the trippy visuals and abstract concepts on this DVD, we highly recommend it!

In The Brothers Quay Collection are ten stop-motion animation works by brilliant animators The Brothers Quay, including six previously unavailable shorts and two unique music videos by 'His Name is Alive.

Included are cult favorites such as:

Contents: (* first time on video)

* The Cabinet of Jan Svankmajer (1984, 14 min, color)
* The Epic of Gilgamesh: or The Unnameable Little Broom (1985, 11 min, color)
* Street of Crocodiles (1986, 21 min, color)
* Rehearsals for Extinct Anatomies (198714 min, B&W)
* Dramolet (or Stille Nacht 1) (1988, 1 min B&W)*
* The Comb (1991, 17, Color and B&W)*
* Anamorphosis (1991, 15 min, color)*
* Are We Still Married? (or Stille Nacht II) (1991, 3 min, B&W)*
* Tales from the Vienna Woods (or Stille Nacht III) (1992, 3 min, B&W)*
* Can't Go Wrong Without You (or Stille Nacht IV) (1993, 3 min, B&W)*

(Special Features Include: Additional 21-minute short, Nocturna Artificialia * trailer for the Quay's recent feature Institute Benjamenta * an interview with the Brothers Quay.

THE CABINET OF JAN SVANKMAJER (1984, 14m): After some preliminaries, a boy doll visits a learned creature and has the contents of his head examined, then assists in a series of experiments. A tribute to the great Czech animator of the early days of cinema.

THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH, OR: THIS UNNAMABLE LITTLE BROOM (1985, 11m): A clown-like officer on a small tricycle has many strange duties to perform. He melts some ice on a mechanized table. A bird creature steals a peek at a piece of meat and is snared.

THE STREET OF CROCODILES (1986, 21m): A man (Feliks Strawinski) frees a puppet, who wanders through a nightmarish loft. Roaming screws are harvested. Robotic exhibits perform behind glass. More ice melting on tables. Zombie dolls dance with him and re-stuff his head. The threads are rewound.

REHEARSALS FOR EXTINCT ANATOMIES (1987, 14m): A black and white short that plays with focus and perception. A mad wire mummy with a vibrating eye scratches a pimple in the code room. The threads escape, covering everything, to the surprise of mechanical critters. It seems a plague is spreading.

DRAMOLET (STILLE NACHT I) (1988, 1m): By now, MTV had discovered the brothers, and commissioned a series of shorts from them. As a hideous puppet watches, hairy mold grows everywhere around his shack. Then spoons. Short enough that you can see half of it in the menu preview.

THE COMB (FROM THE MUSEUMS OF SLEEP) (1991, 17m): A surprise after their previous works: the title object appears in the first shot! The hideous puppet from "Dramolet" returns in the brothers' first widescreen effort. While climbing in the sun-dappled woods, "suddenly the air grows hard", and his hands steal his ladder to explore a nearby loft. Will the sleeper be awakened?

ANAMORPHOSIS, OR: DE ARTIFICIALIA PERSPECTIVA (1991, 15m): The brothers' first educational work, this film was commissioned to illustrate painting techniques that give three-dimensional illusion, sometimes hiding pictures within pictures. Narrated by Witold Schejbal.

ARE WE STILL MARRIED? (STILL NACHT II) (1991, 3m): A domestic disagreement: she refuses to open the door, despite his feverish knocking. The bunny is upset and the bouncing ball is agitated. Music by His Name is Alive.

TALES FROM THE VIENNA WOODS (STILL NACHT III) (1992 3m): A bizarre epitaph. A floating hand. Odd furniture. Suddenly, a shot rings out.

CAN'T GO WRONG WITHOUT YOU (STILL NACHT IV) (1993, 3m): This second music video for His Name is Alive features the same characters. This time, the Easter Bunny protects his eggs from the specter of Death, while the girl is bleeding.

The DVD has some additional bonus features not available on Kino's videotape release:

NOCTURNA ARTIFICIALIA (1979, 21m): An undead puppet creeps through the dark city. Sometimes he rides the phantom trolley. Is he dreaming? Am I? The boys' first short, and their weakest, is still interminable.

FILM INFORMATION:

Title Name:Brothers Quay Collection - The Astonishing Short Films 1984-1993
Format: DVD
1984-1993 | B&W & Color | Not Rated
Approx. Running Time: 102 minutes
Language:English

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Additional Release Materials:
DVD Features:

Short - 1. 'Nocturna Artificialia' - The Brothers' First Short
Original Theatrical Trailer for INSTITUTE BENJAMENTA
Interview - 1. The Brothers Quay - Directors
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus