Little Otik (2000)

84% of critics liked it
(43 reviews)
83% of users liked it
(5,552 ratings)

Acclaimed animator Jan Svankmajer combines cartoon and live-action imagery to bring to life a bizarre story based on an old Czech folk tale. Karel (Jan Hartl) and Bozena (Veronika Zilkova) are a married couple who desperately want a child, but have been unable to conceive; Alzbetka (Kristina… More Acclaimed animator Jan Svankmajer combines cartoon and live-action imagery to bring to life a bizarre story based on an old Czech folk tale. Karel (Jan Hartl) and Bozena (Veronika Zilkova) are a married couple who desperately want a child, but have been unable to conceive; Alzbetka (Kristina Adamcova), an only child who lives next door, has long wanted a friend to play with and feels for the couple's sad dilemma. One day, Karel is digging up an old tree stump when it occurs to him that the roots look a bit like a baby; Karel brings the stump home and carves it into the image of a child, and Bozena expresses so much love for the wooden infant that it comes to life. Karel and Bozena name their new child Otik, but their joy is short-lived when they discover the infant has a bottomless appetite -- so much so that Otik begins eating stray animals and even people in an effort to satisfy its hunger. Karel and Bozena hide Otik in their basement to keep it from harming others, but Alzbetka feels sorry for the strange child and begins bringing Otik scraps of food. It soon becomes obvious that this isn't enough to keep Otik satisfied, so Alzbetka starts luring people from the neighborhood into the basement -- letting Otik do the rest. Otesanek was screened in competition at the 2000 Venice Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 5 min.
Directed By: Jan Svankmajer
Written By: Jan Svankmajer
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 19, 2001 Limited
On DVD: Jan 21, 2003
Studio: Zeitgeist Films

Critic Reviews

Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News
Svankmajer has created a bizarre cinematic treat that pokes fun at obsessive consumer culture.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
It's no surprise that Jan Svankmajer's Little Otik is dark, strange stuff.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
The cumulative impact of Little Otik is engrossing and provocative, and Svankmajer draws splendid ensemble performances across the board.
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
Its dark whimsy doesn't hold up for the duration of Svankmajer's film version, which, at more than two hours, seriously wears out its welcome.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
127 minutes is a lot of time for a simple movie with one satirical point to make and one animated character to show.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
Subversively funny, it's a welcome alternative to the big-budget movies flooding into theaters at this time of year.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
[VIDEO] "Little Otik is in a class all by itself. Jan Svankmajer is a mad genius of cinema."
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Little Otik is in a class all by itself. Jan Svankmajer is a mad genius of cinema.
Dan Fienberg, Zap2it.com
A fairy tale for adults, Otik is demented and heartwarming in that particular and unique Svankmajer fashion.
Rumsey Taylor, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
There is an inherent humor to the premise, though there is a concrete desperation at the heart of Little Otik.
Harry Guerin, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
The film's shock storyline soon becomes a dull plod.
Paul Matwychuk, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)
Like many Disney films, Little Otik is based on a classic European folktale, but while Disney cleans these stories up into candy-coloured moral fables ready to be adapted into breakfast cereals and ice shows, Svankmajer eagerly plunges into their d
Shawn Levy, Oregonian
What sustains attention is the director's unique touch.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Unfortunately, at more than two hours, all of this is a bit too much.
Jason Anderson, eye WEEKLY
While there's not quite enough in the story to justify the film's length, Little Otik is a very funny satire on family ties, apartment living and conspicuous consumption.
Lawrence Toppman, Charlotte Observer
Devilishly funny.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
a disquiet amalgam of Little Shop of Horrors, Dead Alive, and Raising Arizona, with a splash of the Brothers Quay to push it right over the edge.

Read all 17 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

Little Shop of Horrors, with a Czech twist. An off-beat (to say the least) rendering of a fanciful fairy tale. Consider this a rave review for a ravenous root. :)
Arash X

Like merging Lynch's The Grandmother & Eraserhead and making it more straightforward but also more twisted at the same time
Tsubaki S

Yet another reason for not having kids ever.
El Hombre I

Little Otik is one strange film, conceived and executed with some really fun stop-motion effects. The strongest section of the film has a psychological intensity that builds horrifically. Jan Svankmajer's Little Otik, like Eraserhead, is one of those indescribable films that… More
Little Otik is one strange film, conceived and executed with some really fun stop-motion effects. The strongest section of the film has a psychological intensity that builds horrifically. Jan Svankmajer's Little Otik, like Eraserhead, is one of those indescribable films that is as disturbing and dark as it is revolutionary. The story is crazy. The acting is good. The visual images are almost groundbreaking. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view¤t=littleotikpic.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/littleotikpic.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Ross C

Dark Czech fairy tale about a couple who long for a child so much that they go crazy and produce a monster. It would be a disturbing horror movie if not for the comical stop-motion animation. Not very engrossing.
Cindy I

Based on a Scandanavian children's story, but more Roald Dahl than Dr. Seuss. Kinda comedic, but in a twisted way. A strange story about a log of wood that the infertile "parents" treat as a real child. It eventually comes alive and eats all the neighbors, getting… More
Based on a Scandanavian children's story, but more Roald Dahl than Dr. Seuss. Kinda comedic, but in a twisted way. A strange story about a log of wood that the infertile "parents" treat as a real child. It eventually comes alive and eats all the neighbors, getting larger with each meal. The mother treating this hunk of wood like a real child, including breastfeeding it, is as creepy as it is bizarre. A darker but similar film to Little Shop of Horrors.
Luke B

A fantastically original and twisted film. A husband gives his wife a stump to care for as a joke, but it soon comes alive and starts eating people. Surreal but enjoyable. This small horror/comedy is a rare treat.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "Little Otik," Bozena(Veronika Zilkova) and Karel(Jan Hartl) are an infertile couple who desperately want a child of their own.(Maybe they could adopt one?) To console his wife, Karel carves a doll out of a tree trunk near their cottage which Bozena… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "Little Otik," Bozena(Veronika Zilkova) and Karel(Jan Hartl) are an infertile couple who desperately want a child of their own.(Maybe they could adopt one?) To console his wife, Karel carves a doll out of a tree trunk near their cottage which Bozena starts treating like a real baby. Then, she announces her pregnancy to her neighbors...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]I remember hearing that "Eraserhad" was about David Lynch's trepidation at becoming a father for the first time. And I was thinking about that while watching Jan Svankmajer's "Little Otik." And certainly in Otik's growth and transformation, I could see definite signs of a parents' fears of starting a family. In the end, this is a dark fairy tale done in an imaginative way especially the mother of all hysterical pregnancies.[/font]
Edward S

Could have been a fantastic, innovative film if not for a "protagonist" so despicable and revolting that I spent half the film wishing for the nosy, disrespectful, spoiled little brat's demise (the little girl.)
Marion R

I am sure there is an audience out there for this type of film, but I just wasn't it. Didn't care for it, plus I felt it was really long.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

Veronika Zilková
as Bozena
Jan Hartl
as Karel
Jaroslava Kretschmerova
as Her mother

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Little Otik (2000)

Critic Reviews

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