Living Large: Czech animated film competes for European Film Awards
The Czech animated film Život k sežrání (Living Large), a co-production with Slovakia and France, is set to compete at this year’s European Film Awards, which will be presented on Saturday. Directed by Kristina Dufková, it tells the story of 12-year-old Ben, who struggles with obesity while navigating the complexities of adolescence.
Ben Pipetka is a music-loving and chef-in-the-making 12-year-old, who is about to face the biggest challenge of his life. Returning to school after the summer break, Ben sees his crush Clare and realizes his weight is an obstacle he can no longer ignore. Can he find the courage to win her heart—and learn to like himself in the process?
Living Large, Dufková’s feature-length debut, is based on the novel La Vie, en gros by French author Mikaël Ollivier. The screenplay was adapted by Petr Jarchovský, known for his collaborations with director Jan Hřebejk, including the beloved Cosy Dens. Dufková says she first encountered the story while reading it to her daughter and was immediately struck by its themes:
“It’s about being aware of your body, accepting yourself, and embracing your imperfections. My own daughter did not struggle with obesity, but she struggled with being too tiny. So this story is like a guide—it shows kids that they’re not alone and that everyone is struggling with something, even if it doesn’t look that way.”
The film combines stop motion, 2D, and puppet animation, brought to life with a striking visual style and innovative use of music. Dufková explains that puberty and its bodily changes were a major inspiration:
“I always adapt the artistic style to fit each film. Here, I wanted to see the world through a teenager’s eyes. I used visual extremes—long arms, legs, and noses—to reflect how kids start transforming in puberty. It felt like the perfect fit for this story.”
Creating the film presented some unusual challenges. For instance, the main puppet’s silicone body caused complications, says Dufková:
“The mass of the puppet is not suitable for animation at all. It is very heavy, so it kept collapsing, even with animation needles holding him up. Walking scenes were especially hard because he has short legs for his size, making his movements tricky to animate. But at the same time, the material also fit his character.”
Living Large premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Contrechamp Jury award. It has since been screened at festivals in Shanghai, Karlovy Vary, and Locarno.
Now, the film is up for two major prizes at the 2024 European Film Awards—Best European Film and Best Animated Feature—competing against notable entries like The Substance and Emilia Pérez. The winners will be revealed during a ceremony in Lucerne, Switzerland, this Saturday, December 7.
Although no Czech film has ever won the European Film Award for Best Film, the country has seen success in other categories. In 2008, Helena Třeštíková’s René won Best Documentary, and in 2012, Tomáš Luňák’s animated feature Alois Nebel took home Best Animated Film.
