I haven't seen a ton of Czech New Wave films, but every one I have seen seems to owe a tremendous debt to Brakhage. Is that just me?
Daisies is an energetic experimental New Wave film about two teenage girls (who may or may not be sisters) who decide to reject society's ideas of morality and just generally cause havoc everywhere they go. It's the anarchy of Marx Brothers without the punchlines as the two girls destroy their room, trick old men into taking them out on dinner dates, and, in a great climax, completely lay waste to a banquet hall and all it's food. Any specific political messages behind the images (besides the general leanings towards feminism and nihilism) were completely lost on me, as is so often the case with experimental film, but they were often indelible enough that it never hurts the proceedings. One image in particular, of the girls burning strips of crepe paper hanging from their ceiling, was particularly beautiful and strange and will stick with me for a long time.
At just over 70 minutes, it's as short as a Marx Brother's movie too. It goes back and forth between silent comedy and pretentious art film, but thankfully leans closer to the former than the latter. One of the few experimental films that's as pleasurable and fun as it is cryptic and bizarre. Recommended. Check out the first 4 or so minutes here.
Daisies is an energetic experimental New Wave film about two teenage girls (who may or may not be sisters) who decide to reject society's ideas of morality and just generally cause havoc everywhere they go. It's the anarchy of Marx Brothers without the punchlines as the two girls destroy their room, trick old men into taking them out on dinner dates, and, in a great climax, completely lay waste to a banquet hall and all it's food. Any specific political messages behind the images (besides the general leanings towards feminism and nihilism) were completely lost on me, as is so often the case with experimental film, but they were often indelible enough that it never hurts the proceedings. One image in particular, of the girls burning strips of crepe paper hanging from their ceiling, was particularly beautiful and strange and will stick with me for a long time.
At just over 70 minutes, it's as short as a Marx Brother's movie too. It goes back and forth between silent comedy and pretentious art film, but thankfully leans closer to the former than the latter. One of the few experimental films that's as pleasurable and fun as it is cryptic and bizarre. Recommended. Check out the first 4 or so minutes here.
