The other day, I undertook my second airing in only 14 years [!] of this Czech art-horror classic- a WWII-set slow-burner driven by a more than hefty burden of guilt over its parent country's acquiescence to the German occupation. And, seeing as I watched it alone this time [and NOT in the company of a hectoring nobendie from North West London] it was even more enjoyable than before: assuming, that is, that 'enjoyable' is the correct word to apply to such a work.
Languid, morose and [much like a lot of East European cinema of that time] austere, it can be tough going: but if you persevere, its occasionally playful absurdism is both thought provoking and extremely rewarding. In addition to which, it features some of the best monochrome photography of its or any decade, up there with Franju and Bergman at their respective peaks. True, it's not for the 'casual' horror viewer, and will almost certainly bore the pants off anyone with a tunnel-vision predisposition toward the more 'traditional' Hammer/Amicus/Tigon/AIP fare of the same era: but if you like a challenge, and you don't object to films that are entirely [to use my Mum's time honoured expression] 'in foreign', then this might just very well be up your twisted "ulice" Once seen, never forgotten.
Languid, morose and [much like a lot of East European cinema of that time] austere, it can be tough going: but if you persevere, its occasionally playful absurdism is both thought provoking and extremely rewarding. In addition to which, it features some of the best monochrome photography of its or any decade, up there with Franju and Bergman at their respective peaks. True, it's not for the 'casual' horror viewer, and will almost certainly bore the pants off anyone with a tunnel-vision predisposition toward the more 'traditional' Hammer/Amicus/Tigon/AIP fare of the same era: but if you like a challenge, and you don't object to films that are entirely [to use my Mum's time honoured expression] 'in foreign', then this might just very well be up your twisted "ulice" Once seen, never forgotten.
statistics: Posted by Wyngarde — 11:55 PM - 1 day ago — Replies 0 — Views 63