Review of Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970) by Matthew R — 09 Mar 2016

Come explore the erotic and phantasmagorical dream world of a young girl who has just had her first period! Surreal and hypnotic, this Czech film is full of the beautiful and the weird - and presumably much symbolism.

Valerie lives with her grandmother (who may or may not be a vampire, having pledged her soul to the weasel for a return to youth, temporarily not eternally). Said weasel may actually be her father (in varying human form, gruesome or handsome) and the father of her suitor/protector (named Eagle).

Later, she is ravished by a scary bearded priest who dies but then rises from his coffin unharmed. Valerie takes it all in stride. Perhaps she knows this is a dream or perhaps she is confident in the powers of the magic earrings that Eagle has given her for protection.

Now if I've made this sound like an actual plot, please forgive me - what we have here is a string of pictures and moments that gently wash over the viewer with no respect at all for narrative conventions.

Choose the right time.