In honor of Halloween, dig this: “Golem” – an unfinished film by the great Czech director Jiří Barta, best known for his stop-motion animated films made during the communist era. After the fall of the Soviet Union Barta was unable to find funding for his work – alas, he was only able to complete a short version of “Golem” in 1996.

Still, what remains of the film is brilliantly animated, foreboding, and deliciously creepy.  As you can see, it follows the terrifying visions of an old rabbi as he walks through the alleys of present day and old world Prague, which eventually morphs into stone like the mythical golem.

JRC members mark your calendars: I’ll be teaching a three session class on the legend of the Golem in January…