Valerie and Her Week of Wonders
Director: Jaromil Jires
Actors: Jaroslava Schallerová, Helena Anýzová, Petr Kopriva
PlotValerie, a thirteen-year-old girl living in a small town, discovers a pair of magical earrings that open her eyes to a surreal and nightmarish transformation. As she navigates through newfound sensations and perceptions, Valerie encounters an assortment of mysterious characters that blur the lines between reality and fantasy. Among them are a lecherous priest, a predatory vampire, and her own grandmother, whose true motives are shrouded in ambiguity. Valerie's sense of reality begins to unravel as she grapples with burgeoning sexuality and the realization of her own agency.
In the midst of these otherworldly experiences, Valerie exerts a newfound power to protect herself against various dangers threatening her innocence. The boundaries between dreams and waking life dissolve, leading her through a series of increasingly bizarre and symbolic encounters. Each event becomes a step in a journey through the mysteries of womanhood and self-discovery. Yet, as the week progresses, Valerie must confront revelations that shake the core of her existence and force her to confront her vulnerabilities head-on. As day blurs into night and reality becomes indistinguishable from the fantastical, Valerie’s resilience leads her closer to understanding the potential and perils of her awakening identity.
Writers: Vítezslav Nezval, Ester Krumbachová, Jaromil Jires
Release Date: 16 Oct 1970
Runtime: 77 min
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Czechoslovakia
Language: Czech
Home Video Reviews
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