Demon of the Marshes

The film captures the journey of Josef Paseka through Šumava Mountains. He is searching for a space where to breathe deeply, a space for calm, for truth. As well as the inhospitable Šumava nature he has to also learn to get along with the people of Šumava – the extractors of peat, and the strange devils too. Josef Paseka is slowly discovering that if he wants to understand this region, he will have to cast aside all he has come with. Even a hundred years ago Šumava was a place that was romantinc, but also dying, exploited, devastated, fascinating, magical and neglected.

Director’s statement
Picture this: You stand on a hill in Šumava, looking over a valley where morning fog dances. It's cold, but a warm cup of tea keeps you cozy. Smoke rises from chimneys and merges with the mist, and you feel like you're brewing the fog of Šumava. This experience inspired us to create "Demon of the Marshes," an animated film with Sumava as its theme. We chose this topic because journeys into nature often bring natural inspiration that can't be ignored. Our film follows Josef Paseka, a character inspired by Czech graphic artist Josef Váchal, as he journeys through Šumava's stylized landscapes. We want to create an artistically rich yet playful language that matches Váchal's prints. We target an adventurous audience who enjoys getting enchanted and wondering about the world's possibilities. Šumava and Váchal are the common denominators from and for which we create "Demon of the Marshes."