Mean Barbara 1989
Tucked away in the playful world of Czechoslovakian animation, *Mean Barbara (1989)* spins a darkly humorous tale of deceit and irony.
Director: Vlasta Pospíšilová
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mean Barbara (1989) about?
*Mean Barbara* is a Czechoslovak animated short about a village schoolmaster who hides the body of a mean-spirited woman after a disagreement, only to discover that covering up the deed sets off a chain reaction of deception through the entire community. Each new bearer of the secret repeats the same flawed logic, turning a single act of concealment into a communal farce.
Who directed Mean Barbara?
Vlasta Pospíšilová directed *Mean Barbara (1989)*, a filmmaker known for her distinctive contributions to Eastern Bloc animation.
Who stars in Mean Barbara?
The film features primarily voice acting; Jan Werich lends his voice to the role of the village schoolmaster in this concise but memorable cast.
Is Mean Barbara (1989) worth watching?
At just sixteen minutes, *Mean Barbara* is a gem for fans of dark comedy and satirical storytelling in animation. Its clever script and subversive themes outweigh its modest runtime, making it a rewarding watch for those who appreciate offbeat, thought-provoking short films.
How long is Mean Barbara?
The runtime of *Mean Barbara (1989)* is 16 minutes.
About Mean Barbara (1989) — A Darkly Playful Tale of a Body That Wouldn't Lie Down
Tucked away in the playful world of Czechoslovakian animation, *Mean Barbara (1989)* spins a darkly humorous tale of deceit and irony. Directed by Vlasta Pospíšilová, this sixteen-minute short film follows a tight-lipped village schoolmaster who stumbles upon the corpse of Barbara, a notoriously stingy and unpleasant elderly woman with whom he'd clashed just days prior. Rather than risk scandal, he quietly hides the body—only for it to be found by another villager, restarting the cycle of concealment and exposure. As the cadaver circulates through the town like a macabre parcel, each new bearer repeats the same dodgy calculus, crafting a biting satire on collective complicity and the absurd lengths people go to avoid accountability.
Crafted with the sharp precision of a fable, *Mean Barbara (1989)* marries the gentle charm of Eastern Bloc animation with a wry, almost cynical edge. Beneath its whimsical visuals lies a meditation on human nature: greed, fear, and the quiet compromises that bind communities together. The film's compact runtime belies its rich thematic depth, leaving viewers with a lingering sense of mischief and mild unease.