Synopsis

Thanks to the painter brushing his portrait, an old man rediscovers his youth. This is an adaptation of the myth of Faust, the character being guided and manipulated by the devilish painter. The film makes simultaneous use of direct painting under the camera, painting on cellulose (the customary technique of Georges Schwizgebel) and animations on magnetised cut paper.

Georges Schwizgebel

Animation director Georges Schwizgebel has created a remarkably original body of work. His films are marked by masterful technical execution, a playful approach to narrative, spectacular formalism, and the intermingling of visuals and music. His first film, The Flight of Icarus, launched a prolific career, boasting numerous awards at prestigious international festivals like Cannes, Annecy, Animafest Zagreb, Hiroshima, Stuttgart, Ottawa, and Espinho. The Ride to the Abyss (1992) is regularly cited as one of the finest animated films of all time. In 2017, Georges Schwizgebel received the Honorary Cristal in Annecy, followed by the Honorary Award of the Swiss Film Awards in 2018. In 2019, he was awarded the French insignia of Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters. He is the most awarded author in the history of Animafest, and was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.