weighted by thinking: Sedmikrásky

I watched Sedmikrásky, by Věra Chytilová today, it was such a beautifully visual satirical surrealist film and a great experience to watch. I've wanted to watch it after studying the Czech New Wave in my film course earlier this year, we watched Lásky jedné plavovlásky aka Loves of a Blonde which I also enjoyed, it had such a great youthful spirit, similar to the famous French New Wave of the same time.
The two films both had the added dimension of a certain political bent and though I'm no expert in Czech politics both before and after the Prague Spring the messages both have of oppression, rebellion, sex and gender are certainly universal and easy to read in these films and they're certainly films that makes you think. I think the added dimension of the political climate of Prague at the time makes the Czech New Wave movement unique from the French New Wave despite having similar themes and styles. The Marie's rebellion for example, such as feast on the food in the communist-run factory is certainly more daring and risky than the run through the Louvre by the gang in Bande á Part, it certainly has darker consequences. Even the filming of such scenes caused the film to be banned in it's country of origin after the Prague Spring.
Sedmikrásky was certainly more surreal than Lásky jedné plavovlásky and the films I have seen from the French New Wave, though this wasn't unsettling to watch, there were many visually beautiful sequences, such as this colourful train sequence which meant the film was still engaging to watch despite the slow plot development. The use of colour in the film in particular was innovative and many of the frames were so beautifully arranged they could be art as screen shots alone. The co-ordination of the sets, costume and props gave the film a very synthetic feel, which made everything seem so artificial, the film certainly wasn't realism, but made a great statement in not being so.
The two female leads in Sedmikrásky were another really enjoyable part of the film, both equally charming and exasperating as the troublemaking Maries. The film had the potential to be annoying and forced if the actresses didn't embody the fun, naivete and curiosity of the characters (they're in almost every scene together) but Ivana Karbanová and Jitka Cerhová are thankfully very engaging. Just the statement of having two such free and rebellious female leads, only using male characters as sex objects and authority figures was a revolutionary move for the time and its still very rare now to have such a female-centric film, especially in the mainstream.
It was a great film, really worth watching. I really need to spend more time watching films that make me think and discover more. Maybe blogging about it might give me the motivation (hahahaha).
Finally the fashion of Daisies was so amazing: