Epic of Gilgamesh

(1985) (0:11)

This film is very loosely based on part of the Gilgamesh legend, in which the protagonist captures the wild man of the forest with a prostitute. The Quays hope to someday film the rest of the legend.

The "hero", in this case, is a wretched Mr. Punch type puppet who rides (is confined to?) a rusty tricycle. He has a variety of exciting traps which he tests, and finally sets the "prostitute" trap, which is a multi-dimensional table- like device in which meat can be placed for bait. The top is a bas-relief of a vaguely womanish shape.

The "wild man" is a beautifully designed bird-like creature with a skull head. It flies in as the hero sleeps, and is drawn to the trap. It looks through the clear abdomen to see the meat swinging back and forth like a clock's pendulum inside. As it tries to get the meat, the bird-thing is pierced by multiple spears from the tabletop, and is blasted away into a trap by the impact.

The "hero" draws the bird-thing out of the trap in a satin cloth. He binds the bird-thing, beats it sadistically, cuts its wings off, then finally imprisons it in the "prostitute"- trap, possibly as bait for a bigger foe?

I have yet to read the Epic of Gilgamesh, so I don't know what happens next, but this is an entertainingly freakish little film, with some of the finest puppets/sets I have ever seen.

Quicktimes:

The bait is seen... 1.1 MB movie

The beating of the bird... 1.1 MB movie

Check out the other Quay pages that I have completed:

The Brothers Quay Home Page
Film/Videography (Revised 8/18/96)
Rehearsals for Extinct Anatomies (Revised 8/18/96)
Nocturna Artificiala
The Institute Benjamenta
Unfilmed: Sleepwalkers of Daylight
Music Videos/Commercials (New 8/18/96)
Film Appearance: Peter Greenaway's "The Falls" (New 8/18/96)
Back to Animation of Heaven & Hell in 3-D! Main Page

Last Revised 2/18/97

	The "hero", in this case, is a wretched Mr. Punch type puppet who rides (is confined to?) a rusty tricycle. He has a variety of exciting traps which he tests, and finally sets the "prostitute" trap, which is a multi-dimensional table- like device in which meat can be placed for bait. The top is a bas-relief of a vaguely womanish shape.
The "wild man" is a beautifully designed bird-like creature with a skull head. It flies in as the hero sleeps, and is drawn to the trap. It looks through the clear abdomen to see the meat swinging back and forth like a clock's pendulum inside. As it tries to get the meat, the bird-thing is pierced by multiple spears from the tabletop, and is blasted away into a trap by the impact.
The "hero" draws the bird-thing out of the trap in a satin cloth. He binds the bird-thing, beats it sadistically, cuts its wings off, then finally imprisons it in the "prostitute"- trap, possibly as bait for a bigger foe?
I have yet to read the Epic of Gilgamesh, so I don't know what happens next, but this is an entertainingly freakish little film, with some of the finest puppets/sets I have ever seen.