The Hand (1965) by Jiri Trnka - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Willravel · 08-10-2009, 11:07 AM

In 1965, a Czech visual artist names Jirí Trnka created a short film called "The Hand (Ruka)" as a telling and haunting indictment of totalitarianism.

Jetée · 08-19-2009, 05:20 AM

Not many words come to mind after seeing such a film, at least initially.

It's jarring, intense, and profound, yet still left open-ended. Thanks for sharing, Will.

The one thing I noticed as I look back is that the hand that intrudes on the man's space started out as a white hand, yet as the "master hand" became more irritated at the man's unwillingness to comply to "hand worship", it turned more forceful. As it progressed, it eventually stripped off its facade of a white glove, which to me denotes peace, serenity, and goodwill, and revealed darker and darker shades of grey, finally displaying as jet black. Menacing. Corrupt. Malevolent.

I saw this as how a totalitarian entreprise (or even a democracy, for that matter) can initially present itself as a "for the good of the people" system, but as time wears on, eventually it can and will infect itself unto the masses, which then explains that "for the good of the people", certain freedoms must be sacrificed.

Did anyone else think this as well? I'm going to research this vignette a bit further, and what it is meant to convey, indict, and ultimately inspire unto its audience.
Thanks again. Certainly a provocative piece for those left wanting more.

SSJTWIZTA · 08-19-2009, 05:36 AM

*sigh* im on dail-up...

...damn my curiosity.

give me an hour to let this load.

edit: I CANT DO IT! IM JUST NOT THAT PATIENT! i'll let this thing load later while im busy or something.

08-10-2009, 11:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	The Hand (1965) by Jiri Trnka In 1965, a Czech visual artist names Jirí Trnka created a short film called "The Hand (Ruka)" as a telling and haunting indictment of totalitarianism.

08-19-2009, 05:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jetée The Reforms Location: Rarely, if ever, here or there, but always in transition	Not many words come to mind after seeing such a film, at least initially. It's jarring, intense, and profound, yet still left open-ended. Thanks for sharing, Will. The one thing I noticed as I look back is that the hand that intrudes on the man's space started out as a white hand, yet as the "master hand" became more irritated at the man's unwillingness to comply to "hand worship", it turned more forceful. As it progressed, it eventually stripped off its facade of a white glove, which to me denotes peace, serenity, and goodwill, and revealed darker and darker shades of grey, finally displaying as jet black. Menacing. Corrupt. Malevolent. I saw this as how a totalitarian entreprise (or even a democracy, for that matter) can initially present itself as a "for the good of the people" system, but as time wears on, eventually it can and will infect itself unto the masses, which then explains that "for the good of the people", certain freedoms must be sacrificed. Did anyone else think this as well? I'm going to research this vignette a bit further, and what it is meant to convey, indict, and ultimately inspire unto its audience. Thanks again. Certainly a provocative piece for those left wanting more. __________________ As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world (that is the myth of the Atomic Age) as in being able to remake ourselves. —Mohandas K. Gandhi

08-19-2009, 05:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
SSJTWIZTA Master Thief. Master Criminal. Masturbator. Location: Windiwana	sigh im on dail-up... ...damn my curiosity. give me an hour to let this load. edit: I CANT DO IT! IM JUST NOT THAT PATIENT! i'll let this thing load later while im busy or something. __________________ First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak out for me. -Pastor Martin Niemoller Last edited by SSJTWIZTA; 08-19-2009 at 05:49 AM..