Quay Brothers’ ‘Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass’ Trailer

Quay Brothers’ ‘Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass’ Trailer

by Alex Billington
August 1, 2025
Source: YouTube

Film Forum has revealed an official trailer for the film Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass, the first feature in 20 years by animation masters The Quay Brothers. This originally premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival last year, and also played at the London Film Festival. Presented by Christopher Nolan, who is a huge fan of these two eccentric filmmakers, Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass is a 75 minute feature mixing both live-action & stop-motion animation. It will be playing in cinemas starting at the iconic Film Forum theater in NYC starting at the end of August. A ghostly train journey on a forgotten branch line transports a man visiting his dying father in a sanatorium to the edge of a mythic forest. Based on the book of the same name by Polish writer Bruno Schultz. Told in seven chapters corresponding with seven prophetic, mystical viewing lenses, the film bends objects, time, and dimensions as Josef navigates the realm between dreams and reality. With Allison Bell, Andrzej Klak, Wioletta Kopanska, Zenaida Yanowsky. It’s described in reviews as: “Wonderfully strange and beguiling. An enchanting fantasia.” This definitely looks like it is very experimental and strange – for anyone who is into peculiar & alluring cinema.

Official trailer (+ poster) for Quay Bros’ Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass, via YouTube:

The first feature in 20 years by animation masters The Quay Brothers is inspired by the writings of Polish author Bruno Schulz. In a mixture of live action & breathtakingly intricate stop-motion puppetry, the Quays follow the journey of Josef, who arrives at a labyrinthine sanatorium in search of his dying father. Told in 7 chapters corresponding with 7 prophetic, mystical viewing lenses, the film bends objects, time, and dimensions as Josef navigates the realm between dreams and reality. Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass is directed by the iconic American twin filmmakers Stephen Quay & Timothy Quay (aka the Quay Brothers), directors of films Punch & Judy: Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy and Institute Benjamenta or This Dream That One Calls Human Life previously, along with tons and tons of compact films. Produced by Lucie Conrad and Izabela Kiszka-Hofilk. This first premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival last year. Film Forum will debut the Quay Brothers’ Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass in select US theaters (at Film Forum first) starting August 29th, 2025 coming soon. In conjunction with this opening: The Quay Brothers — on 35mm, featuring 3 classic shorts in 35mm, curated by Christopher Nolan, as well as Nolan’s compact documentary, Quay, will play on Wednesday, August 27th at Film Forum in NYC.

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