Tribute to Jan Kounen

Jan Kounen, a Dutch living in France, is not a house name in the Czech Republic, even though he is one of today’s most innovative and daring European authors. His feature films, starting with the 1997 debut Dobermann to film Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky, which closed last year’s festival in Cannes, are really anything but ordinary. His original short films from the 1990’s, from Gisèle Kérosène to Vibroboy and Le dernier chaperon rouge, mix very dark humor with freespirited imagination, surreal ideas and a rather large dose of silliness. Each film has its own style, overflows with inspiration and references to sometimes incredibly obscure film genres. All of his films have achieved cult status and his last film, The story of Panshin Beka (2006), part of project “8”, definitely doesn’t disappoint in its utter departure from the ordinary.

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