Bath Film Festival 2008

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

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders
sub-titles

Jaromil Jires

Czechoslovakia | 1970 | 73m | 15
Central United Reformed Church
Friday 31 October, 10.45pm
£4 / £3
With: Jaroslava Schallerová, Helena Anyzová, Petr Kopriva

One of the last films of the Czech ‘New Wave', and one of the most influential fantasies ever made, Valerie is an intoxicating gothic fable about a 13 year-old girl beset by bizarre erotic dreams in which she is constantly pursued by a sinister array of lecherous authority figures. Schallerová, (13 at the time) gives an extraordinary performance, effortlessly expressing the confusion, anxieties, and wonders of a girl at the onset of womanhood. Mixing horror, fairytale, surrealism and Freudian symbolism, it's another wonder that the film was ever made in a climate of Soviet suppression! Jires manages to successfully combine the ethereal with the grotesque (think Alice in Wonderland meets Nosferatu). Add breathtaking visuals and a remarkable score and ‘its overall effect is stunning' - Time Out. VT/SR

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Philip Castang
Posts: 5
Comment
Re:
Reply #3 on : Thu October 16, 2008, 07:07:52
I agree.
Anonymous
Posts: 5
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Re:
Reply #2 on : Wed October 15, 2008, 13:02:24
I agree. Lovely film.
Rob
Posts: 5
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Re: Valerie's Wonderful Week
Reply #1 on : Wed October 08, 2008, 18:45:38
What a surprise to find this in your programme! I remember thinking it was the most beautiful film I had ever seen (or was ever likely to see) when I saw it in a double-bill with The Party And The Guests. Also fantastic to have an opportunity to re-visit The Round-up - one of the greats. Good on you, BFF!
Last Edit: October 09, 2008, 02:12:45 by bff  

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