Daisies (1966)
Daisies (1966)
A film by Věra Chytilová
An essay by Sámal Jákup Jakobsen
Class: Moving Narratives
Tutor: Helen McGregor
21st of January 2012
Introduction
“Chytilová's heroines rebelliously try to subvert the patriarchal system and gender stereotypes—and fail”! That is how Małgorzata Radkiewicz puts the film in a very short description. In the middle of a very Communist society in Czech Republic the imbalance between male and female roles is vast. In order to get through to the political realm, Věra Chytilová made Sedmikrásky (Daisies, 1966) that would show to the public their society from another point of view. When the film came out the government not only banned the film from being screened in the entire country but also banned Věra from making films until 1975. In Daisies she uses two young female rebels named Marie I and Marie II who really try to swim against the stream of their society, but in the very end they realize that they have to become a part of it. The film was one of the big steps towards the Czech New Wave in cinema.
The questions I will raise and try to answer are these:
I will first take a look at the story and meaning behind the film including what affections it has had on the Czech Republic and eventually the rest of the world. Secondly I’ll look at what inspired Věra Chytilová to make this rather unnatural film and how she has inspired other filmmakers. Last I’m going to have a look at the technical part of the film and how it was made.
The narrative part of the film
The opening title sequence includes a close-up of rolling train wheels with marching drums and trumpet playing along while frequently being interrupted by an exploding nuclear bomb. By doing this the Czech New Wave filmmaker has introduced us to her own view of the culture she lives in. This is followed by a mid shot of them both sitting outside on a patio with every movement sounding like a shrieking old wooden door. While sitting half naked on this
A film by Věra Chytilová
An essay by Sámal Jákup Jakobsen
Class: Moving Narratives
Tutor: Helen McGregor
21st of January 2012
Introduction
“Chytilová's heroines rebelliously try to subvert the patriarchal system and gender stereotypes—and fail”! That is how Małgorzata Radkiewicz puts the film in a very short description. In the middle of a very Communist society in Czech Republic the imbalance between male and female roles is vast. In order to get through to the political realm, Věra Chytilová made Sedmikrásky (Daisies, 1966) that would show to the public their society from another point of view. When the film came out the government not only banned the film from being screened in the entire country but also banned Věra from making films until 1975. In Daisies she uses two young female rebels named Marie I and Marie II who really try to swim against the stream of their society, but in the very end they realize that they have to become a part of it. The film was one of the big steps towards the Czech New Wave in cinema.
The questions I will raise and try to answer are these:
I will first take a look at the story and meaning behind the film including what affections it has had on the Czech Republic and eventually the rest of the world. Secondly I’ll look at what inspired Věra Chytilová to make this rather unnatural film and how she has inspired other filmmakers. Last I’m going to have a look at the technical part of the film and how it was made.
The narrative part of the film
The opening title sequence includes a close-up of rolling train wheels with marching drums and trumpet playing along while frequently being interrupted by an exploding nuclear bomb. By doing this the Czech New Wave filmmaker has introduced us to her own view of the culture she lives in. This is followed by a mid shot of them both sitting outside on a patio with every movement sounding like a shrieking old wooden door. While sitting half naked on this