Jan Svankmajer's "Zánik domu Usherú" ("The Fall of the House of Usher") is hardly an adaptation of Poe's classic story, which I, despite having heard several Poe stories, have not read. It certainly helps if you know the story to fully appreciate the film, but it also goes without saying that because this is Svankmajer's creation, it doesn't follow the plot using the visuals themselves (i.e. Lewis Carroll's poem "Jabberwocky"). The set-up is simple and some of the visuals pertain to the story itself, but most of it tends to be the classic, wacky imagery one expects from the Czech filmmaker.
Unlike most filmmakers, who would retell the story using live actors with real dialogue, Svankmajer's approach is more off beat as is to be expected. A narrator, speaking in Czech (which I unfortunately do not understand one bit) reads the story, or a condensed version of it in this version to provide background, while the screen itself is filled up with a variety of strange visuals of an old house - intended to be the one in the story. There are live action shots of old walls, windows, etc., interspersed with animation segments - including mud, leaves, cracks in walls, rubble and other things moving of their own accord. The ending was the most memorable part, as numerous pieces of furniture move by themselves and fall out the windows into the river - rather strange, but nonetheless very nicely executed. Well made for what it is certainly, but not one that can be called a real adaptation - although still, knowing Svankmajer, one wouldn't expect it to be anyhow. He was still learning his potential as this film demonstrates - but, as is also shown, it wouldn't be long before he really proved his worth.
Unlike most filmmakers, who would retell the story using live actors with real dialogue, Svankmajer's approach is more off beat as is to be expected. A narrator, speaking in Czech (which I unfortunately do not understand one bit) reads the story, or a condensed version of it in this version to provide background, while the screen itself is filled up with a variety of strange visuals of an old house - intended to be the one in the story. There are live action shots of old walls, windows, etc., interspersed with animation segments - including mud, leaves, cracks in walls, rubble and other things moving of their own accord. The ending was the most memorable part, as numerous pieces of furniture move by themselves and fall out the windows into the river - rather strange, but nonetheless very nicely executed. Well made for what it is certainly, but not one that can be called a real adaptation - although still, knowing Svankmajer, one wouldn't expect it to be anyhow. He was still learning his potential as this film demonstrates - but, as is also shown, it wouldn't be long before he really proved his worth.