Screening of the Portrait Luděk

Many of us associate puppets with childhood and fairy tales, in which puppeteers bring life to simple objects. One such person is Luděk Vémola, a founding member of the Lišeň Theatre. A short documentary about him was screened on Saturday afternoon as part of the OFF program.

The film was created by JAMU student Šimon Pávka, who was present at the screening. The portrait is primarily structured as an interview – we learn how Luděk Vémola got into puppetry, what it means to him, and how the Lišeň Theatre was created. The dialogue is complemented by examples of his work – fragments from various performances or a presentation of a musical instrument made from a bucket. Even through the screen, one can sense a high level of creativity. 

The Lišeň Theatre is distinctive not only because it is a puppet theatre, but also because it addresses social and political themes. Luděk mentions the reactions of different audiences – the contrast between open-minded students on one hand, and teachers with already firmly formed opinions on the other. He points out a major advantage of their productions: they spark people’s interest in politics, and audiences often engage in discussions after the performances, something which is much needed in today’s world. Although puppets provide a certain freedom and distance in expressing opinions, we also learn about the threats the theatre regularly receives. 

After the screening, we have a unique opportunity to have a brief discussion with the filmmaker. He describes how he first encountered the LišeňTheatre as a spectator and how their subsequent collaboration developed. Even though most of this portrait on film consists of a single interview, we feel we have learned more than would seem possible in such a short time. As the applause fades, we find ourselves looking up the theatre’s nextperformance.

author: Kamila Jášová