Valerie and Her Week of Wonders

Finally watching this after having it sitting on dvr for so long (TCM pretty much fills the dvr). This is a peculiar and incredibly visually alluring film that mixes horror fantasy with a compelling coming-of-age tale. It's equally disturbing and whimsical, filled with delightful imagery and symbolism that keep you riveted. It finds the perfect balance between the lighthearted imagery with creepy imagery and the curious tone is there throughout. Every single moment of this film plays out like a dream and you'll have no clue on what direction it'll take you. The music used is so magical and just adds to the overall feel of the film. Did I mention it's under 80 minutes? Absolutely wonderful! I'm pairing this with _Black Moon_ which is also a coming-of-age folk horror and on my dvr.

The original title of the film is Valerie a týden divu.

I am temped to label this a pretentious art film, and seeing as how it's part of the Criterion Collection, I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
Personally, I'll say that this is artistic, and strange, but does have enough of a story as to not be garbage. However, I did have some major problems with this - not all of them artistic... more on that later.
So, what is this? Well, it's a horror movie, when it wants to be, and more specifically, a vampire movie, when it feels like it.
50% of the runtime is just weirdness, and cutting to random images. I've said it before that filmmaking like this would be great for a music video, but as a feature film, it's just style over substance.
Still, still, this is very good. It is beautiful to look at, and when it decides to be a movie, is interesting, creepy, and worth seeing at least once.
What really held my interest was Helena Anyzova. Wow, what a total babe! If the movie were cut down to just her scenes, I'd give it a 10/10. Tall, skinny Czech woman? Yes, please!
This would get a big recommendation from me for pretentious arthouse snobs - please, enjoy. For everyone else, if you like weird, creepy, dreamlike horror movies, check it out.

Post script: Now, onto the unfortunate side. _Valerie and Her Week of Wonders_ is full of animal exploitation, which ranges everywhere from disregard up to death. The director, in particular, seems to have had an issue with birds.
It got to a point where every time an animal was on screen, I'd have to say "please leave them alone." And, keep in mind, animals were in every scene! The film was already guilty of too much, but in the third act it stepped far over the line by showing a weasel attacking a chicken, only for someone to shoot the weasel.
Animals are not here for our entertainment. Their life is worth more than what a sociopath with a camera thinks is artistic. In fact, it's the antipode of true art! Art is not reality. True art is capturing an illusion that is so convincing as to seem real or, at least, give the same effect. Hurting animals is merely cruel.

Watched this fully expecting to hate it as i dislike surrealism. And while i can’t say I actually liked it, it was far better than i expected.

The general atmosphere and images kept it going.

Wouldnt be aboe to give u any sort of literal interpretation if it tho.

5-6/10

valerie and her week of wonders ? more like valerie and her week of what the ever living fuck is going on