Don Juan

Don Juan

Year: 1969

Runtime: 31 mins

Language: Czech

Director: Jan Švankmajer

Animation

The age-old story of Don Juan, played by giant puppets.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Don Juan yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Don Juan (1969)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Don Juan (1969). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events unfold in a timeless theater milieu that feels both historic and artificial, where automated figures perform a classic tragedy. The atmosphere evokes traditional puppet theater and ritual spectacle, with little reference to a concrete modern era. Jealousy, murder, and supernatural omens drive the plot within this enclosed stage universe.

Location

Old dilapidated automated theater, garden, cemetery, backstage

An old dilapidated theater hosts life-sized marionettes performing the Don Juan legend without puppeteers or an audience. The action moves between backstage corridors, balconies, a garden where the Lovers plan to meet, and a cemetery where a haunting warning emerges. The setting blends decayed machinery with the uncanny presence of puppets, creating a claustrophobic stage world.

🎭 Theater 🏚️ Dilapidated 🌫️ Eerie 🪁 Marionette

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:31

Main Characters – Don Juan (1969)

Meet the key characters of Don Juan (1969), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Narrator (voice) - František Filipovský

The Narrator guides the audience through the dark, ritualized world of the puppet theater with a calm, omniscient presence that underscores the tale's artificiality and irony.

🎭 Narration 🪡 Storytelling

Don Juan

A possessive, jealous anti-hero who schemes to secure Maria for himself, using deception and coercion. His narcissistic appetite for control drives the tragedy and morally corrupts the world around him.

💎 Charisma 🔥 Obsession

Maria

Don Juan's fiancée secretly involved with Philippe, caught between love and the threat of Juan's wrath. Her choices propel the plot and reveal the personal costs of jealousy and loyalty.

💃 Love 🕊️ Fidelity

Don Philippe

Maria's lover who vows to avenge the wrongs and oppose Juan's demands. He is brave, resolute, and ultimately meets a fatal end in a duel.

⚔️ Duel 🛡️ Revenge

Jester

The Fool who carries out Juan's orders and serves as the macabre chorus, blending humor with menace while orchestrating the money-gathering scheme.

🤹 Jest 🗝️ Messenger

Don Vespis

Maria's father and the mayor whose outrage over Juan's intentions culminates in tragedy; he represents authority undone by the play's vicious circle.

👨‍⚖️ Authority 🗡️ Violence

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:31

Major Themes – Don Juan (1969)

Explore the central themes of Don Juan (1969), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔥 Jealousy

Jealousy propels Don Juan to spy on Maria and Philippe, twisting love into control and fear. The obsession distorts judgment, fuels manipulation, and leads to violent acts that unravel the lives around him. This theme shows how passion can corrupt morality within a closed theatrical world.

🗡️ Revenge

The cycle of violence begins with a murder and escalates to a fatal duel, driven by a desire to punish rivals and guard a sacred possessive claim. Revenge poisons relationships and turns the stage into a grim battleground. It underscores the destructive consequences that erupt from personal vendettas.

👻 Haunting consequences

A spectral warning from Maria's dead father foreshadows doom and questions about the fate of Juan's soul. Ghostly presence and the Jester frame a grim meditation on accountability and the boundary between life, death, and performance. The ending hints that actions linger, long after the final curtain.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:31

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Don Juan

Don't stop at just watching — explore Don Juan in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Don Juan is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Don Juan Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Don Juan, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Don Juan Summary

Don Juan Timeline

Track the full timeline of Don Juan with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Don Juan Timeline

More About Don Juan

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Don Juan: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Don Juan

Similar Movies to Don Juan

Discover movies like Don Juan that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.