Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970)
"Valerie a týden divu" (original title)

Inspired by fairy-tales such as Alice in Wonderland and Little Red-Riding Hood, "Valerie and her Week of Wonders" is a surreal tale in which love, fear, sex and religion merge into one fantastic world.

Director:

Jaromil Jires

Writers:

Vítezslav Nezval (novel), Jaromil Jires (screenplay),

Stars:

Jaroslava Schallerová, Helena Anýzová, Petr Kopriva

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Jaroslava Schallerová	...	Valerie
Helena Anýzová	...	Babicka / Elsa / Matka / Rusovláska
Petr Kopriva	...	Orlík
Jirí Prýmek	...	Tchor-konstábl
Jan Klusák	...	Gracián
Libuse Komancová	...	Sluzka-novicka
Karel Engel	...	Kocí Ondrej
Alena Stojáková	...	Hedvika
Otto Hradecký	...	Statkár
Martin Wielgus	...	Tchor-father
Jirina Machalická	...	Kvetinárka
Michaela Klocová	...	Sluzka
Zdenka Kovárová	...	Sluzka
Bedriska Chalupská	...	Sluzka
Robert Nezval	...	Muzikant

Storyline

A thief awakens Valerie, just 13, taking earrings left to her by her mother. By morning, the earrings have been returned, Valerie's first period has begun, and a troupe and a missionary have arrived in her Medieval town. The thief is Orick; he reports to a cloaked constable who may also be the missionary. Attention to sexuality is everywhere: Valerie's grandmother's puritanical nature, the missionary's sermon to the town's virgins, the parish priest's attempt to seduce Valerie, and lusty adults at play. Valerie's nascent sexuality puts her in great danger. Can she navigate the passage from innocence to experience, a route teaming with vampires, a murderer, and an obscure family tree?

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Plot Keywords:

vampire | priest | religion | fairy tale | innocence | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Czech

Release Date:

16 October 1970 (Czechoslovakia)

Also Known As:

I Valerie stin evdomada ton thavmaton

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Prague, Czech Republic

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmové studio Barrandov

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As of October 2007, is currently playing at selected venues as a silent film with a live orchestra and re-interpreted score. The project is known as The Valerie Project.

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Quotes

[subtitled version, when Valerie sees Gracian hanged]
Orlik: It's nothing, just a hanged man.

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Connections

Referenced in The Company of Wolves (1984)

User Reviews

Dreams of a young girl

A "coming of age" story like no other, this Czech Gothic fairytale is possibly the most lyrical film ever made. Valerie, a 13 year old staying with her grandmother while her parents are away has her first menstruation, triggering a series of interlocking dreams about lustful vampires who prey upon her youth. Despite the monstrous goings-on, the film is a buoyant and sensual pleasure to watch. The camera-work and composition never ceases to amaze and the energy of its tuneful folklike score propels the convoluted story forward effortlessly. And much credit should be given to Jaroslava Schallerova as Valerie who inhabits the role with the right balance of knowledge and wonder