With the days now speedily passing until the big day, we have a series of unexpected films for you to consider watching. 51 years after release, this Czech surreal poem to womanhood, is as magical and challenging as ever. The female body becomes corrupted in the eyes of man, men become like monsters coveting the flesh for their wanton desires and menstruation is the key to it all. Now this film would often feature far higher in any list but we have moved it further down, as it is better known and loved than some of the later choices!
32 – VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS (Second Run Films)
WHATS IT ABOUT?
Valerie is turning thirteen, her body is changing and her feelings about it are complex. She lives with her grandmother after the death of her parents, but cant seem to pull herself away from the mortification of the womb of her mother. A monster creeps in and steals her earrings. He is a local boy and death. The earrings are more than just objects to her. Given to her by her mother, they could leave her open to all manner of horrors if not returned. These are problems at her age and could be her chaste ambition at being a virgin or vortex of sexual desires that flood around her very body as she lives.
WHY SHOULD WE WATCH IT FOR HALLOWEEN?
VALERIE might sound like a decidedly complex Halloween watch but it is far from that. There is a lot to take from its core. There is also a lot to glean for film aficionados. It is visually stunning, with a sumptuous merger of metaphor and symbolism. These coalesce on screen and with the truly outstanding extras features on this disc, you can spend hours dissecting the meaning and exploring the poetry (the film is based on a novel by poet Vítězslav Nezval). I can also add that for the viewer less inclined to do so, then merely spending time watching this films 77 minutes is so easy that you might feel rewarded, disturbed and uplifted. Sex and Death are universal themes after all.
WHAT SHOULD WE LOOK OUT FOR?
The added value of three extras shorts is enough to part with the cash for me!
Jaromil Jireš short films:
– Uncle (Strejda, 1959)
– Footprints (Stopy, 1960)
– The Hall of Lost Footsteps (Sál ztracených kroků, 1960)
BUY IT NOW
https://arrowfilms.com/product-detail/valerie-and-her-week-of-wonders-blu-ray/SECONDRUNBD027
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
- Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Valerie a týden divů, 1970) presented from a brand new HD transfer of the film from original materials by the Czech National Film Archive.
- The Projection Booth audio commentary.
- Filmed introduction by film historian Michael Brooke.
- Interview with actor Jaroslava Schallerová.
- Jaromil Jireš short films:
– Uncle (Strejda, 1959)
– Footprints (Stopy, 1960)
– The Hall of Lost Footsteps (Sál ztracených kroků, 1960) - Trailer
- Booklet featuring writing by Peter Hames and Joseph A. Gervasi
- New and improved English subtitle translation.
- Region free Blu-ray (A/B/C)
- Original soundtrack in 2.0 Stereo 24-bit LPCM audio
- UK premiere on Blu-ray
