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Cinema Review: Daisies (Sedmikrasky) ***

Lorna Irvine reviews 'an enormously enjoyable satire' that perhaps overstays its welcome.

A Czech New Wave film which was initially banned by the authorities due to its depiction of pure anarchy, described as 'wanton', Daisies holds up well today for its visual flair, anti-bourgeoisie sentiment and playful disregard for linear logic. Stuart Murdoch from Belle and Sebastian is clearly an admirer, as his record sleeves ape the classic mid-sixties style.

Redhead Marie (Ivana Karbanova) and her best friend brunette, also Marie (Jitka Cerhova) live a childlike existence together, getting old sugar daddies to buy them dinner and wine, then putting them on trains when they've had their fill. When not being prick teases (and they use their Lolita-like charms to the best of their ability) they break into a large buffet, roll down hills, commit arson and generally smash shit up.

It would be annoying, were they not so endearing. They are too knowing and goading of society, and the heightened sound effects provide a cartoonish soundtrack to their hyperactive, almost silent film shenanigans.

The stand-out scenes occur when real life contrasts with their skewed surrealism, as in the bathroom scenes and the moment where they crash a roaring twenties cabaret in a restaurant, get plastered and become the star attraction. There's more than a hint of Jan Svankmajer, that other genius of Czech films, in the excess, both visual and actual, with tinted filters, cut-up technique and heavy use of stock footage and photo-montage.

It is however, a little bit too long. The party has to end sometime, and there are only so many scenes of cake chomping and food fights an audience can take. Some pruning would make the film more tight and less exhausting.

Still, an enormously enjoyable satire, and who hasn't dreamed of swinging on chandeliers?

Director: Vera Chytilova. Cast: Ivana Karbanova, Jitka Cerhova, Marie Ceskova. 1966, 1 hr 14 mins, Czechoslovakia.

Daisies (1966) Official Trailer - Full HD 1080p: http://youtu.be/PtBLYiqy1WI

Sedmikrásky (Daisies) - Girls causing a ruckus at: http://youtu.be/I__LSk1uNGY

As part of the Czech Season, GFT.

www.glasgowfilm.org
Tags: cinema

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