Portmanteau or omnibus films were really popular for the auteurs of the 1960s, but none of them have really lasted in the cinematic memory, have they? There's only one that I've seen that I've loved, Spirits of the Dead, the Edgar Allen Poe film by Vadim, Malle and Fellini. Sure, there are some really good segments that have been made. Pasolini's La Ricotta from Rogopag is especially excellent. But the way these films can vary in quality is what makes them generally so forgettable. Pearls of the Deep, a portmanteau from the Czech New Wave, unfortunately only varies from decent to terrible. Two segments are watchable, those by Menzel and Jires. Jires' is the best of the bunch, about a young man who falls for a gypsy girl, but even it is only tolerable. Chytilová's segment was boring at first, but then she creates this visually lovely scene where a bride in her flowing veil walks around in slow motion. It's the best sequence in the entire film, even if the rest of this short is forgettable. The shorts by Nemec and Schorm are rather pointless. All in all, worth skipping, especially as the Facets DVD is, as is usual for them, godawful.
3 Reviews
Visually arresting anthology from the Czech New Wave
Hehohohehahahe19 October 2015
I've been drinking so I'll make this quick. What we have here are five short films from five different directors of the Czech New Wave, based on the stories of Bohumil Hrabal.
Though some are more successful than other (the standouts being Jires' "Romance" and Schorm's "Dum Radosti") this is a more than worthwhile anthology.
Existing in all the stories is the desire to communicate and be social, but each stories is told with a refreshing directorial style: from observational objectivity, to absurd surrealism, to cynical social commentary.
I'm not prepared to probe much further currently, but if you've seen anything from the Czech New Wave, and enjoyed its blend of humanism, humour, and cinematic vigilance, then this is a film certainly worthy of your time.
NOTE: Though I'm sure someone will eventually offer something better, I felt the need to write this only because there is currently one other review for this film and I disagree with it!
Though some are more successful than other (the standouts being Jires' "Romance" and Schorm's "Dum Radosti") this is a more than worthwhile anthology.
Existing in all the stories is the desire to communicate and be social, but each stories is told with a refreshing directorial style: from observational objectivity, to absurd surrealism, to cynical social commentary.
I'm not prepared to probe much further currently, but if you've seen anything from the Czech New Wave, and enjoyed its blend of humanism, humour, and cinematic vigilance, then this is a film certainly worthy of your time.
NOTE: Though I'm sure someone will eventually offer something better, I felt the need to write this only because there is currently one other review for this film and I disagree with it!
"You will win me over as a man."
morrison-dylan-fan13 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Learning that Criterion has finally done a box set dedicated to the Czech New Wave (CNW),I discovered that the set was named after a movie in the collection.With the title offering a taste of 5 directors work,I decided to pick up one of the pearls of the deep. The plots:
Note:Due to there being 5 stories,I will write the plots in 5 sections-
1: The Death of Mr Balthazar.
Traveling to a major motorcycle event,a couple decide to sit in a spot where the most accidents have taken place.As they talk about the most infamous race crashes that they have seen,the couple start (unwittingly) setting the ground for something to take place at this race.
2: Imposters.
Stuck in a hospital for the dying,two old men try to pass the time by talking to each other as much as possible.Suspecting that they are both near death,the guys decide to show their playful side one last time,by pretending to be other people.
3: House of Joy.
Trying to sell insurance agents,two insurers go to visit a wacky artist. Initially thinking that he just does weird painting,the agents are taken aback by the sighting of a dead goat.
4: At the World Cafeteria.
Attending a wedding,the guests get ready for a night of celebration. Enjoying all of the offerings,the guest fail to notice the total misery of the couple.
5: Romance.
Crossing paths with a Gypsy girl, Gaston has to put all his preconceptions of the Gypsy lifestyle to the side,as he starts to fall for her.
View on the film:
For the title track,Criterion deliver a good transfer,with the many outdoor scenes having just a small amount of dirt,and the soundtrack being clean.
Avoiding a wraparound story,co-writers/directors (deep breath!) Vera Chytilová/Jaromil Jires/Jirí Menzel/Jan Nemec & Evald Schorm instead clean loose tonal pearls to link the stories.Filming 4 of the 5 plots in black and white,each director look at the repressive order of the country by burning everything down to its barest bones,with the stark sets and run-down characters giving the film a rustic,CNW minimalism atmosphere.
Skipping any of the Pop/Rock being pirated in the country at the time,the directors instead cover the film in classical music and half-remembered Folk songs,which do very well at emphasising the dour visual appearance of the stories.Whilst the film makers have good intentions over showing how repressive the country is,the screenplay suffers from being incredibly dry,due to almost all of the characters not being given any distinctive features,and the over-extended plots lines being dragged to tangled conclusions,as the pearls of the deep sink back into the ocean.
Note:Due to there being 5 stories,I will write the plots in 5 sections-
1: The Death of Mr Balthazar.
Traveling to a major motorcycle event,a couple decide to sit in a spot where the most accidents have taken place.As they talk about the most infamous race crashes that they have seen,the couple start (unwittingly) setting the ground for something to take place at this race.
2: Imposters.
Stuck in a hospital for the dying,two old men try to pass the time by talking to each other as much as possible.Suspecting that they are both near death,the guys decide to show their playful side one last time,by pretending to be other people.
3: House of Joy.
Trying to sell insurance agents,two insurers go to visit a wacky artist. Initially thinking that he just does weird painting,the agents are taken aback by the sighting of a dead goat.
4: At the World Cafeteria.
Attending a wedding,the guests get ready for a night of celebration. Enjoying all of the offerings,the guest fail to notice the total misery of the couple.
5: Romance.
Crossing paths with a Gypsy girl, Gaston has to put all his preconceptions of the Gypsy lifestyle to the side,as he starts to fall for her.
View on the film:
For the title track,Criterion deliver a good transfer,with the many outdoor scenes having just a small amount of dirt,and the soundtrack being clean.
Avoiding a wraparound story,co-writers/directors (deep breath!) Vera Chytilová/Jaromil Jires/Jirí Menzel/Jan Nemec & Evald Schorm instead clean loose tonal pearls to link the stories.Filming 4 of the 5 plots in black and white,each director look at the repressive order of the country by burning everything down to its barest bones,with the stark sets and run-down characters giving the film a rustic,CNW minimalism atmosphere.
Skipping any of the Pop/Rock being pirated in the country at the time,the directors instead cover the film in classical music and half-remembered Folk songs,which do very well at emphasising the dour visual appearance of the stories.Whilst the film makers have good intentions over showing how repressive the country is,the screenplay suffers from being incredibly dry,due to almost all of the characters not being given any distinctive features,and the over-extended plots lines being dragged to tangled conclusions,as the pearls of the deep sink back into the ocean.
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