Watched: July 15 2020
Director: Věra Chytilová
Starring: Jitka Cerhová, Ivana Karbanová
Year: 1966
Runtime: 1h 14min
Two young women, Marie I and Marie II (Cerhová and Karbanová), decide that since the world is going bad, they will get down with the badness and no longer live up to the female ideal of temperance.
After eating apples (Symbolism Alert!), they go on an indulgence spree, eating, drinking and generally helping themselves to everything life has to offer, consequences be damned!
Daisies is hard to describe, it needs to be experienced. And you should. The protagonists are wonderful, and there is still, 50+ years later, something unusually freeing about watching two young women gorge themselves on food and drinks the way they do.
We absolutely loved this – it is strange and surreal, and the costumes and sets are fantastic in every way.
Interestingly, after initial good reviews, the film was pretty much banned in its native Czechoslovakia by the communist regime for “depicting the wanton.” However, it is now generally regarded as one of the great Czechoslovak movies of all time.
Excellent comedy with a message! What’s not to love?
What we learned: Everyone needs nourishment. And sometimes you have to break the rules.
Next time: Fantastic Voyage (1966)
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