Marketa Lazarova

Probably my greatest cinema experience. I don't know what I could praise first, the cinematography, Liška's esoteric music, the acting (the incredible Kemr), the locations – everything is perfect. A film with a multi-layered plot that captivates with its visual beauty, which combined with the magical music creates an almost spiritual experience for the immersed viewer. Markéta Lazarová is a three-hour-long visual composition, a cinematic poem to which you will either open your heart and let yourself be carried away by the raw images of the harsh Middle Ages, or you will be bored. It will depend on how sensitive you are… And by the way, Markéta Lazarová has been a regular winner of all polls for the best Czech film of all time since its release. (17/07/2002)

How is Markéta Lazarová one of the best conversions of a literary work? In that it is not just a conversion, but a complete rebirth. Out of kindness for Vančura's book, only the narrator and the character of a wandering monk remained; otherwise Vláčil's opus becomes a rough medieval fresco, replacing the perfection of Vančura's language with no less perfect language of paintings and symbols. The bleak musical accompaniment completes the director's efforts to evoke the medieval atmosphere by all means. Markéta Lazarová is not only strong with her story of love born of humiliation (she stands out much more in Vančura's book), but precisely because of her cinematic craftsmanship qualities. It is rather more of a great film essay – robust, with an unmistakable aesthetic and, in my opinion, absolutely brilliant, though not easily digestible. (25/01/2004)

Impressive images, thoroughly dramatic actors, and - none of it. When the story can be summarized in two sentences, the long shots are on the absolute verge of tolerance, and only the impressive musical background saves what can be saved, I realize that I am incapable of approaching the poetics of this type. (05/04/2006)

3/4 of the movie is boring. And then... suddenly it's interesting, the moving pictures come to life and you think, great, finally something's happening, only then it slides back into boredom and you have 123 minutes to be bored or think about bug immortality. Really a shame about Markéta Lazarová, I was expecting more, but whatever. Seen as it was meant to be seen, I can't complain... (24/01/2009)

Some movies can be enjoyed like a hamburger, and some are enjoyed only by experienced gourmets. Marketa Lazarová is not a sandwich in a bun that can be chewed between writing text messages and gaming on the computer. It is a long film, but completely different from the long films from Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. To enjoy Marketa Lazarová means to be relaxed, receptive, and appropriately tuned in. It is truly a demanding film that requires concentration because it has minimal dialogue and speaks through visuals and music. The film will likely be appreciated by those who do not hesitate to spend time visiting galleries or reading poetry collections. Such individuals will embrace František Vláčil's symbolism and poetic scenes, the play of light and shadows, or the panoramic long shots of the foggy marshy landscape, where the putrid smell can literally be felt from the image...The actors are good, but Marketa Lazarová is a film that is watched for its direction, camera work, and music. At the same time, it is a film that benefits from a big movie theater screen. Overall impression: 100%. (08/12/2007)

Marketa Lazarová is a work that should shed the myth and once again become one of the more interesting pieces of the 1960s and not the only chosen film among all of them. If it were to remain the chosen one, it would have to be absolutely versatile, no matter what criticism or pigeonholing it grappled with. It would have to live up to the symbiosis of the audience and the art film - an excellent acting film in which artistic license, dramatic adaptation, and the depicted stage in history work. Marketa is unique in many ways, but the film is not perfect. Bringing it back down to earth makes it an even better film. (09/12/2012)

More challenging than many (even the last) Malick, but undoubtedly a beautiful film with perfect images, Liška's beautiful music, an incredibly medieval atmosphere, great performances (Josef Kemr and Vladimír Menšík in particular) and a story full of thoughts and question marks that will surely make me want to watch Marketa Lazarová again soon, and let me tell you, I'd love to.__P.S It happened, and now I'm adding a fifth star. (07/10/2011)

A film that is definitely not for everyone and will probably never be sufficiently appreciated by the general public. I too found the poetically conceived story a bit of a problem, but if I look at everything else – the detailed direction, the beautiful sets, the actors (the amazing Kemr) and especially the incredible atmosphere of the evil Middle Ages underscored by fantastic music – I have no choice but to give this gem a full rating. Vančur's distinctive approach commands respect, and František Vláčil perfectly captured it here and brought to the world a legendary film unparalleled in the history of Czechoslovakia. 90% (05/05/2013)

Incredible to imagine, in an era when Czechoslovakian historical film consists of Báthory, to imagine that such a film as this one could ever have been spawned here. A legendary cinematic artifact, a gem of gems. I'd seen it once before in the cinema (remastered) after a hard day's work, dozed off twice and virtually failed to understand the connections between the characters (which I'm told is quite difficult without knowing the source material). Still, it was enough. I hereby commence my goal of seeing Marketa Lazarová at least ten more times in my lifetime. (12/10/2011)

What to write about a movie, about which so much has already been written? Critics praise it to the heavens, viewers often have a hard time digesting it. I hated reading "Marketa Lazarova". Vančura definitely did not write a book that would be easy to read for today's readers, especially when they are still children. I expected something similar from the movie. And that's exactly what I got. To a certain extent. The film amazed me in a positive sense. It is very difficult to read, very difficult to endure, and it is definitely not ordinary evening entertainment. It is prose in film, poetry in prose. Heavy, almost medieval, one might say. But that didn't impress me that much. What literally grounded me are the filmmaking techniques that František Vláčil used. There are so many different ones, so many variations, and yet they all work perfectly together. Long shots of the landscape, as well as faster cuts, different camera angles that you don't often see. Vláčil played with sound, using echo or chorales. Above all, he made the actors deliver such incredible performances. Especially Josef Kemr and Vladimír Menšík dominate. Magda Vášáryová is as natural as ever. It's not just an easy watch, it's not a simple story. It has many layers, it deals with various topics. One could find a lot in there. The position of women in society, views on God, the man as the head of the family and lineage at all costs, etc. There are many topics that last for more than two and a half hours. The runtime corresponds to that, of course. The film is an inspirational source, it is an example for filmmakers who don't know what to shoot, how to shoot, what to shoot about. If Vláčil had made only one film and it was "Marketa Lazarova," he would forever be engraved in history. But he made more, and that makes him one of our greatest directors. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/09/navzdy-spolu-marketa-lazarova-pouta.html (28/02/2013)