Valerie & Her Week of Wonders (1970)

SCOVELL, A. (2015)


The film itself presents numerous parallels and dualities, highlighting the transformation from innocence into adulthood, depicted as some sort of a 'Freudian dreamscape' (SCOVELL, A).
In spite of the fairytale-like ambience that is created, the production is saturated in varying Gothic elements; an authentic, yet radical depiction of the original novel, published in 1945. The author and renowned poet Vítzslav Nezval was regarded, in Czechoslovakia, as the leader of the poetic movement in the 1920's and pioneer of the surrealist movement in the 1930's. Therefore, the film is a reflection of Jires' 'brand of poetic sensitivity' (HAMES 2005) and also displays his adaptation of the novel, with his 'deliberate softening of the nightmarish elements of the original text (HAMES 2005).

Nezval's position of respectability as a Communist made it possible for Jires to resurrect the pre-war traditions of Czech art. Their interest however, should not be seen as a case of mere opportunism.

 Similar to the work of Chytilova, 'Valerie' allows the spectator to develop their own interpretation of the film, by presenting them with the opportunity to combine their understanding with what appears on the screen. However, it certainly does not delve into the same vividly unknown depths as does 'Daisies', it simply works to a precisely conceived aesthetic pattern, both in the careful manipulation of its narrative structure and the composition of individual frames (HAMES 2005).

The diverse array of motif's, such as the rosary beads, teeth, necklaces and flowers, are only effective through the technique of repetition and not through the process of forceful indication of the imagery. Although there are also repeated references to phallic symbols, they are not presented in an invasive manner, instead they feature as part of settings, unlike many Western representations such as Arthur Penn's 'Bonnie and Clyde' (1967).

Reference List: 
HAMES, P. (2005) The Czechoslovak New Wave. Second Edition. London: Wallflower Press.

SCOVELL, A. (2015) Valerie And Her Week Of Wonders (1970) – Duality Through Sound and Vision. [Online]. Celluloid Wicker Man (Part 1/February). Available From: http://celluloidwickerman.com/2015/02/09/valerie-and-her-week-of-wonders-1970-duality-through-sound-and-vision-part-1/