Zahrada is based on a book whose title translates to "The Living Fence", and it acts as Svankmajer's critique about living under an authoritarian regime, under the ruse of communism.
The garden itself is the state.
It's overseer is only concerned with it's cultivation, not that of the people whom he requires to prop it up and keep it safe from external "rabbits".
He uses his monopoly on information to keep the people in line...quite literally in this case.
While, those individuals who make up the living fence, are those who capitulate to a fascist regime, for whatever reason (whether that be fear of repercussions, because they have something against you, or because they have been brainwashed into adopting an ultra patriotic worldview etc.)- even if only superficially, when the leader himself is looking.
In this sense, it is much akin to Trnka's stop motion masterpiece Ruka (The Hand)...and can be interpreted in a similar light.
It's one of the few Svankmajer films that is completely live action, and has no stop motion at all.
But you can still see some of his trademark stylistic touches, throughout (the plate of food, the close up shots of facial features, etc).
A very weird, but very apt little short film...that is just as relevant now as it was then.
6.5 out of 10.
