Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Valerie a týden divu)

Rating:
Summary: Exquisite phantasmagoria...
Review: For years, I'd read about this film, then I managed to track down a bootleg video copy of it in the mid-90s. Even though that video was in less than prime condition, the brilliance of the film shined through anyway.

The first time I watched VALERIE..., I really had no idea what it was about, but the haunting visuals and score--oh, what music!--entranced me. I've watched the film many times since then, including during its recent U.S. arthouse run, and, each time, I feel like I'm unlocking some puzzle. On the surface, it's all so simple, but underneath, it's something else entirely.

Then there is Valerie, one of the most charming film heroines I've ever encountered. Imagine watching a young Kate Bush in a fantasy film, and you'll understand what I mean. It's a testiment to the director's sensitivity and the acting ability of the actress who plays Valerie that this film doesn't sucumb to soft-porn cliches or mawkishness. Ravishing.

VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS has been worth waiting for.

Rating:
Summary: Exquisite phantasmagoria...
Review: For years, I'd read about this film, then I managed to track down a bootleg video copy of it in the mid-90s. Even though that video was in less than prime condition, the brilliance of the film shined through anyway.

The first time I watched VALERIE..., I really had no idea what it was about, but the haunting visuals and score--oh, what music!--entranced me. I've watched the film many times since then, including during its recent U.S. arthouse run, and, each time, I feel like I'm unlocking some puzzle. On the surface, it's all so simple, but underneath, it's something else entirely.

Then there is Valerie, one of the most charming film heroines I've ever encountered. Imagine watching a young Kate Bush in a fantasy film, and you'll understand what I mean. It's a testiment to the director's sensitivity and the acting ability of the actress who plays Valerie that this film doesn't sucumb to soft-porn cliches or mawkishness. Ravishing.

VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS has been worth waiting for.

Rating:
Summary: Stunningly...ABYSMAL!
Review: Having lived in the Czech Republic for much of the 1990s and developed a keen appreciation for that tiny country's rich literary and film traditions, I was very disappointed in this film, which I saw mainly because a Czech friend told me that the screenwriter is a famous 19th century Czech writer.

Instead what I got was a hopelessly cheesy, self-indulgent and asinine movie that could've been made by some high school students with bad video equipment and a small-town costume shop. Where to start? This film attempts to be poetic and surreal but is mostly asinine and flaky. It kind of flops along from one scene to the next with all the narrative force of a wet noodle. It just about screams, "They made me in the 1970s, that's why I'm so terminally corny!" About the only way anybody could really enjoy this movie would be if they had a lot in common with the main character, a flaky (albeit somewhat cute) pubescent girl with the feeble, naive and passive qualities of a post-lobotomy 5 year old.

Please don't write off Czech cinema if this is the first Czech film you've ever seen. Better bets would be "The Firemen's Ball" and "Closely Observed Trains" by Milos Forman, or the claymation masterpieces of Jan Svankmejer such as "The Faust Lesson" and "Greedyguts."

Rating:
Summary: What the hell is wrong with people who like this crap?
Review: The Czechs are weird. I think their archetypal imagery is pretty far gone from what mine is because I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on during most of this extrememly strange sex and incest ridden fairy tale about a young girl's burgeoning sexuality (I think) and vampires with no dental plan. Right from the start, it's clear this was made in the early 70's or so. It takes about ten minutes for one to start remembering stumbling across something like it when you were young and swearing off odd-ball foreign films until you came across "Delicatessen" or "La Femme Nikita" or some such classic. Really, this is like those norway mythological films they used to savage on "Mystery Science Theater 3000" only without a Harryhausen imitator to pick up the slow points.
So basically, Valerie is a sweet young thing who finds that her earrings are magical, protect her from all harm, and let her see her seemingly idyllic village for what it really is (?), a lair of the undead, her face-painted-white-to-indicate-she's-old granny soon to be among them. Everyone is crewing in fields or getting bitten by these Deliverance-toothed vampires, her brother is alternately trying to screw her and getting tortured by the main vampire guy who is either or grandfather or her father, the town priest is also trying to screw her and trying unsuccessfully to burn her at the stake when she spurns his advances. I'm at a loss why so many people are "discovering" this film now and raving about it. Perhaps for laughing and throwing out lines with a bunch of friends, its perfect, but other than that....well, at least it's short. I can understand the appreciation of surreal symbolism heavy non-narrative filmmaking. Watch Jean Luc-Goddard's "Weekend" or Alejandro Jodorosky's "The Holy Mountain", but this is just plain silly nonsensical olan-mills lit crap.

Rating:
Summary: A Visual Tour de Force
Review: This is one of those rare treasures of international cinema that is simply a must see. The screen explodes with color and surreal imagery that is genuinely a labor of art. This is a film for true film lovers. I think it belongs in the collection of anyone who perceives motion pictures as much more than entertainment. This doesn't mean that the film will not entertain and fascinate, but it transcends the typical narrative films with its focus on visuals to tell its story. This is a captivating film that has not been available for a very long, long time to my knowledge. Again, if you love world films, and especially those that are one-of-a-kind in terms of cinematography, art direction, etc., this is certainly a keeper. Those who prefer the Hollywood formula, which at its best can be superb, and at its worst an abomination, should also seriously consider this impressive gem, as I think it is truly memorable and simply fascinating.