The Death of Dark Animation in Europe: Priit Pärn's 'Hotel E'
The Death of Dark Animation in Europe: Priit Pärn's 'Hotel E'

Summary/Abstract: This article examines how the trend toward more socio-critical, 'dark' or artistically pretentious films, which developed in the Soviet Union more generally during the years of Mikhail Gorbachev's ascension to power, essentially culminated and also came to an end in Estonian animation with Priit Pärn's animated film Hotel E (1992). The article is based on a specific case study, an analysis of the film and the surrounding events, first by endeavouring to map out the broader historical and cultural context around Hotel E, and secondly by demonstrating the fact that the film can be viewed as the finale of many cultural processes that had been unleashed earlier: in the film, criticism of the powers-that-be of the late or 'mature' socialism, which was typical of the former Eastern Europe, is combined with the longing for the always virtually perceived West.

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