Valerie and Her Week of Wonders

Maybe if I were a fifteen year old girl I would have a different reaction, but in my present incarnation this movie leaves me indifferent. It is impressive that it is available Tubi.

Like all the best dream movies it has an intricate internal logic to the narrative. You may not always know what is happening but the filmmakers certainly do.

I saw this film when I was an impressionable 17-year-old yoot at the Academy Cinema in London's Oxford Street (long since gone). It was a bewildering and enchanting fantasy then, and I've just watched it again after an intervening 53 years, and it is just as beautiful, confusing and magical now, as I remembered it being. You need to actively engage and be prepared to leave comprehension behind, but truth can sometimes transcend understanding, and if you suspend preconceptions, you will discover a sprinkling of true cinematic magic.

There's some incredibly beautiful imagery on display here but the narrative is dream-like to the point of confusion. All sorts of psychosexual metaphors going on but it doesn't coalesce into a great whole. Best viewed as a kind of surrealist fantasy without trying to read too much into it I think.

24.05.2021 ---------

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders can be confusing, but it's a complete pleasure to eyes and ears, with its delightful score and its cinematography that mixes bright colours perfectly. The result is a perfect dreamlike blend of fantasy and horror. And the word "dreamlike" is an accurate word to describe this masterpiece. Director Jaromil Jires demonstrates his talent with this film and now I see why he's considered as one of the directors that changed Czech films.

If you can imagine Nosferatu invading a Pre-Raphaelite painting, you may connect to this imagery laden dark fairy tale. The characters meander around in a flowing, yet condensed arena that pulled me in and had me the whole way.

There is a lot of symbolism at play here, so if you're into that... Also the supernatural aspects are fun. The realm of what's possible is greatly expanded in this film's universe. Also, like a lot of its Czech peers, this film is highly sensual and erotic. Too bad it comes off kind of schlocky at times.

Hypnotic in every sense of lost romanticism, if a film could be adorable, well this one is. Some of its edges are rough and unpolished, but tall tales of steamy teens makes for ultimate divine backlash and lime green serenity. Everyone does there job with a fine hint of style and Valerie with gifting grace.

A weird movie. I didn't understand the story. The star goes to the ferret that appears for two seconds and then dies, poor thing, the half star is because at least they tried.