Birds, Orphans and Fools

Shot immediately after the Soviet invasion of 1968, Jakubisko's Birds, Orphans and Fool is a free-wheeling allegorical film - playful, surreal and, finally, increasingly nightmarish. Involving energetic, childish, carefree adults which seems to be a popular art-house approach at this time period. An unconventional triangular relationship between three war orphans, two men and a Jewish woman, as they travail a war-torn landscape of bombed-out churches and wrecked homes, playing wild games that frequently cross the border into symbolism or the bizarre. Briefly discussing the meaning of life, playfully explore sex and play with old men and children that appear out of nowhere. They are products of an absurd world in which war, violence and death predominate. And represent a lawless, undisciplined society, a lifestyle of joyous madness, careless irresponsibility, repressed emotions and sudden violence, caused by despair and hardships. They are people who face a tough, violent world and survive by adopting a childlike philosophy of life and live a life of foolish, joyful denial.