A surreal and, at times, achingly beautiful coming-of-age tale set against a backdrop of menacing pagan mysticism, director Jaromil Jires' earthy fable offers a unique portrait of a world not too far from our own in terms of collective mentality and skewed politics. Whether viewed as a political allegory or a simple cautionary fable, the film could likely succeed on either level, though Jires' damning view of organized religion shines through with distinct and unmistakable clarity no matter how the film is interpreted. From the dank interiors of the vampire-infested village's secret underground corridors to the bright sunshine that seems to permeate the celluloid in the afternoon light, Jires succeeds in creating an unsettling atmosphere that's as effective as it is unpredictable. Comfort in family, religion, and law enforcement all fades, as Valerie (Jaroslava Schallerová) confronts such menacing corruptors as a creepy, Nosferatu-like priest and the pedophilic constable and throughout everything, Jires offers his young protagonist no safety or sanctuary save for a pair of powerful magical earrings. As the menace closes in from every side (including Valerie's own household), the bleakness that would traditionally be punctuated by darkness is instead sickeningly highlighted by the soft rays of the afternoon sun -- making the threat all the more effective. The choice of Jaroslava Schallerová as the innocent but extremely aware Valerie is indeed a wise choice, as her unusual and hypnotic beauty serves to highlight the film's otherworldly aesthetic.
![Valerie and Her Week of Wonders [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0715515148313_p0_v1_s311x398.jpg "pdp")
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]
Director: Jaromil Jires Cast: Jaroslava Schallerov? , Jan Klusak , Helena Anyzkov? , Petr Kopriva , Jiri Prymek
Blu-ray
(Subtitled / Full Frame)
$39.99
- Release Date: 06/30/2015
- UPC: 0715515148313
- Original Release: 1970
- Rating: NR
- Source: CRITERION
- Region Code: A
- Language: English
- Runtime: 4560
- Sales rank: 10,918
39.99
Out Of Stock
Valerie (Jaroslava Schallerov?) is the young teenage girl who lives with her grandmother. She feels the first stirring of sexual awareness when a carnival parade comes to town. Eagle (Petr Kopriva) is the young man who presents her with a pair of magic earrings. Her fantasy adventures begin when she imagines she is the daughter of a bishop with a hideous visage. Her grandmother becomes a vampire. She pretends to be dead when a priest tries to rape her by swallowing one of the earrings. The line between dreams and reality is blurred in this surreal psychological fantasy.
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- Valerie and Her Week of…
- Director: Jaroslava Schallerov?
From the Publisher
"The integration of the Bieler boys' war experiences into their family's story makes for a sophisticated and exceptional narrative." Terry Copp, Department of History, Wilfrid Laurier University“A fascinating book that weaves together letters and memoirs, Onward, Dear Boys is a thoroughly enjoyable read and a significant addition to the relatively few Canadian firsthand accounts of the Great War.” Susan Mann, author of Margaret Macdonald: Imper