Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Valerie a týden divu)
by Jaromil Jires
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Helena Anýzová, Jan Klusák, Jaroslava Schallerová, Jirí Prymek, Petr KoprivaDirector: Jaromil Jires
Brand: Facets Multimedia
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Czech (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 77 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-01-13
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Facets
Movie Reviews of Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Valerie a týden divu)
Movie Review: Pearls before swine....it seems.
Summary: 5 Stars
"And here... is our clue to the method of the adventure, if one is ever to return home.
It is this: not to identify one's self with any of the figures or powers experienced."
- Joseph Campbell
One of the great films of the 20th century, and unavailable for the last 30 years. A real shame (thank you Facets for its release! And such a beautiful print). I remember seeing "Valerie" for the first time in 1974. I had no idea what was going on, But it was one of the most beautiful films I'd ever seen, so I relaxed and watched the flow of images. I've seen it many times since (thanks to a bootleg copy).
The key to its understanding is that she is asleep from the start of the film to the end, and what we are seeing are her dreams, a unique approach to say the least. A good analysis of the film can be found on pages 229-236, The Czechoslovak New Wave by Peter Hames, U. of California Press, 1985.
The end of "Valerie" is, to me, profoundly touching. During most of the film, she freely interacts with the characters of her dreams, but by the end she has achieved a kind of detached enlightenment; though they call to her, Valerie refuses to interact with them anymore. And so at the end, in that Autumnal landscape, as her dreams dance around her, she climbs into her bed one last time......Sleep tight sweet Valerie, don't let the bedbugs bite....."Fear is only a dream / so dream little one dream."
A note to Mr. Nietzsche (not the philosopher); the term is not "Claymation", that word was invented by the animator Will Vinton to promote his work. The correct term is "Stop-motion".
A note to Mr.Cox: "La Femme Nikita" is neither "odd-ball" nor a "classic".
Finally, regarding the remarkably unkind reviews of "Valerie" by the above 2 persons,
I'll let uncle Will have the last word: "You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things...."
And now the soundtrack is available on CD. will wonders never cease?
Summary of Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Valerie a týden divu)
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