Vera Chytilova's Czech New Wave "Daisies" is the kind of film you watch if you're in the mood for a political/feminist satire of an acid trip. Luckily I'm normally in that mood, so I was extremely happy to stumble on this film. (It's also interesting to watch because "Daisies" was quickly banned by the Communist government; Chytilova herself was banned from filmmaking for some years after.)
Filmed in 1966, "Daisies" opens with a montage of war footage. It then tells the story of two girls (both named Marie) who one day reflect on all the terrible things that happen in the world and so decide to be bad themselves.
The Maries then go on a surreal whirlwind of a journey---keyword: surreal---that involves a lot of excess. They wander in and out of scenes, creating havoc in one way or another. Sometimes to pass the time, they use men for meals and money. (They use and tease men a lot, pointing out all the foolish things men say to women to make them love them.)
Now embodying the sin of gluttony, they drink and eat a lot when they feel like it.
And when the Maries aren't running around being bad, they spend time in their apartment, surrounded by their art, cutting photos of flowers out of magazines, discussing life and talking nonsense.
One thing I can say for sure about "Daisies": the Maries have a great style, one I'd describe as mod anarchy.
And as for the story, there's not a lot to it. "Daisies" doesn't run very long. It's mainly just a trip to watch. The scenes don't follow any sort of linear path. They jump from there to here and back again. The point of the movie is pretty ambiguous, which is what I really love about it. "Daisies" just wants to present you with a crazy and bright mixture of scenes and ideas---and leave you to pick up the pieces.
xo
craig hunter
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