Marketa Lazarová (1967)
Genre: Drama / Romance
Duration: 162 minuten
Country:
Czechoslovakia
Directed by: Frantisek Vlácil
Stars: František Velecký, Josef Kemr and Magda Vášáryová
IMDb score:
7,8 (6.621)
Releasedate: 24 November 1967
Marketa Lazarová plot
"Putting the ‘dark’ back in the Dark Ages."
Mikolás and his brother Adam rob travelers for their tyrannical father Kozlík. One of their robberies fails, leaving them with a German hostage and a runaway victim who goes to warn the King. Kozlík prepares for revenge from the King and tries to mobilize people to assist him in the coming war. But the King also appeals to his subjects by turning the battle into a battle between Christianity and Gentiles.
Actors and actresses
Mikoláš, Kozlík's son
Marketa Lazarová, Lazar's daughter
Adam, Kozlík's one-armed son
Alexandra, Kozlík's daughter
Kristián, son of Bishop of Hennau
Lazar, Kozlík's rival
Kozlík, Lazar's rival
Kateřina, Kozlík's wife
Jan, Kozlík's son
Reiner, Bishop of Hennau's Valet
Reviews & comments
Spetie
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- 38871 messages
- 8251 votes
A very beautiful film, this Marketa Lazarová, which is especially notable for its excellent cinematography, where the dynamic camera captures everything in a wonderful way.
In terms of content, the story is indeed very reminiscent of Tarkovsky's Andrei Rublyov, but visually I mainly saw a similarity with Ivan's Childhood. Here too, beautifully filmed shots of the landscapes and forests, where at times you can simply enjoy the images. The often wintery landscape, with snow-covered meadows and plains, provides an extra dimension in that area. That's how I like to see it.
In terms of content, the film has a strongly spiritual message. The battle between Christians and pagans is strongly highlighted here by men and riders on horses, who also create a medieval-like atmosphere. Even though the story is fairly linear, with a division into different chapters with corresponding titles, you still need to pay close attention. There is also quite a bit of symbolism in the story, which means you have to make a good effort to follow everything properly. With a film with this running time, it gets a bit tiring in the long run, but that's not a problem.
I really liked that symbolism, especially the use of animals. Together with the beautiful cinematography and the spiritual message, these are the strongest points of this film. I found the music to be quite variable. Sometimes beautiful, but sometimes not, and at those moments it was just a little too emphatically present. Furthermore, there is very little to comment on, and I have to conclude that, after Obchod na Korze and Ucho, this is once again a very strong Czechoslovakian film. And it is certainly recommended for people who like the work of directors such as Tarkovsky, Dreyer and Tarr.
4.0*
Translated from Dutch · View original
wibro
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- 11590 messages
- 4098 votes
Impressively beautiful film, thanks to the beautiful images in beautiful black and white, a beautiful score and a very beautiful Marketa, which was actually shown far too little. Scenes that stand out for me are those scenes with the running dogs and the very beautiful erotic scene of Marketa at that sacred tree. I actually experienced Marketa Lazarová as a film that you just have to experience, where you just have to let everything come to you and not focus too much on the story. Because I couldn't do much with the story. For me, this film has to have it all because of the beautiful medieval atmosphere that was created in this film.
4.0*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
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- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
I also tried Czech's best film, so it is said. I saw it in its entirety on YouTube with English subtitles. It takes a lot out of you and it held me back for a long time from starting the more than two and a half hour film. I may not be as lyrical as some fanatics here, but I understand why this film is so acclaimed in the cinephile world.
Cinematographically very strong. Very atmospheric with the decor that has been taken care of down to the last detail. A threatening and hopeless gray world of the Middle Ages. Nicely packed in the snow, with or without a pack of wolves around it.
Various camera styles are used to convey the visual story. From close-ups, vistas and various points of view. A kind of medieval epic by Rabauws in which religion is also central: pagans versus Christians. I wasn't always following the story well and couldn't follow every action, but the images often spoke for themselves. In terms of style, it also reminded me a bit of Tarr's Satantango, which I first saw in 2023.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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