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Product Description
Set in the 13th Century, this ambitious and multi-layered medieval epic with its nearly three-hour length, elliptical narrative and emphasis on symbol and metaphor, is a stunning work of cinema. Filmed in black & white widescreen and often attaining a Wellesian grandeur, Vlácil penetrated the psychology of the times to produce an inspired and fascinating film. Markéta Lazarová has been voted by Czech and Slovak critics and artists as the best Czech film of all time.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: LANGUAGES: Czech ( Mono ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Black & White, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Voted the best Czech film ever made, Marketa Lazarová is a powerful and passionate medieval epic set in the mid-13th Century. Based on avant-garde writer Vladislav Vancura's novel, it follows the rivalry between two warring clans, the Kozlíks and the Lazars, and the doomed love affair of Mikolás Kozlík and Marketa Lazarová. Re-creating an authentic world and as reminiscent of Tarkovsky and Kurosawa as it is of the rich tapestry of Czech fiction, this ambitious and multi-layered film is the crowning achievement of Vlácil's career and one of the undiscovered cornerstones of world cinema. ...Marketa Lazarová ( Marketa Lazarova )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
58 of 58 people found the following review helpful
By Nobody
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
Frantisek Vlacil directed "Marketa Lazarova" in 1967 during a two year shoot and was adapted from the avant-garde novel by author and 1930's film director Vladislav Vancura. Set in the 13th century it is a tale of to warring clans and the eventual doomed love of Marketa and Mikolas which leads one to draw comparisons to Shakespear's "Romeo and Juliet" although markedly more barbaric and superstitious. Vlacil is not interested telling a linear story which can make it difficult to follow at times but it is also his use of dialogue or the lack thereof which gives this film an hallucinatory quality. Vlacil's real emphasis is on the poetic image to create his narrative and is what really makes this an astounding work of art and brings to mind the work of other director's like Tarkovsky (Andrei Roublev,1966); Dreyer (Passion of Joan of Arc, 1928); Kurosawa (Seven Samurai, 1954), Bergman (The Seventh Seal,1957) and Eisenstein (Ivan the Terrible,1944). "Marketa Lazarova" also incorporates elements of soviet montage with the use of animals in several sequences as metaphor. The score by Zdenek Liska who is known for his work with Jan Svankmajer is amazing, incorporating medieval church music and making "Marketa Lazarova" an operatic masterpiece.
I am now lead to believe upon viewing this film that this is truly one of the great neglected works of of Czech cinema as it is rarely shown outside of Eastern Europe. All that has been set right now by Second Run releasing it on DVD format (Well done guys, we want more!). The transfer is excellent with high contrast and a great clean soundtrack. There are no extras aside from the informative booklet but that is no cause for complaint.
Do not miss this opportunity to own a copy of this amazing film. A must for all film buffs.
I am now lead to believe upon viewing this film that this is truly one of the great neglected works of of Czech cinema as it is rarely shown outside of Eastern Europe. All that has been set right now by Second Run releasing it on DVD format (Well done guys, we want more!). The transfer is excellent with high contrast and a great clean soundtrack. There are no extras aside from the informative booklet but that is no cause for complaint.
Do not miss this opportunity to own a copy of this amazing film. A must for all film buffs.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By MarkusG
Format:DVD
This movie from 1967, set in the 12th century, is very hypnotic due to it's vivid images (mixing wide screen landscapes, extreme close ups and moving camera), different modes of narrative (text tableaus, voice, flashbacks, memories) and eerie middle age-like music (it's actually electronic music with voices created specifically for the movie).
In this movie there are no clear cut good vs evil and no typical villains and heroes (maybe for the exception of Marketa Lazarova herself who has some saint-like innocence). The people are more the products of the harsh social and religious environment of the dark ages. The plot is better experienced than talked about in advance. Haunting, complex and spell-binding, this is a very good movie, much better than the historic epics produced by hollywood every year.
The transfer is excellent (I watched it on a projector) with beautiful black/white (it's hard to think of this movie being made in colour).
This is the kind of movie that can be watched again. There is no commentary which would have been nice, but the booklet is informative. Second Run has made a fantastic job making this 40 year old movie look like new.
At the price of Ł8 it's extremely good value for money. Highly recommended!
In this movie there are no clear cut good vs evil and no typical villains and heroes (maybe for the exception of Marketa Lazarova herself who has some saint-like innocence). The people are more the products of the harsh social and religious environment of the dark ages. The plot is better experienced than talked about in advance. Haunting, complex and spell-binding, this is a very good movie, much better than the historic epics produced by hollywood every year.
The transfer is excellent (I watched it on a projector) with beautiful black/white (it's hard to think of this movie being made in colour).
This is the kind of movie that can be watched again. There is no commentary which would have been nice, but the booklet is informative. Second Run has made a fantastic job making this 40 year old movie look like new.
At the price of Ł8 it's extremely good value for money. Highly recommended!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Green Knight
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Well! It takes your breath away, this film. It's an epic, to be sure - and what an epic. It's about three hours long, but it is so intriguing and magnificent to look at that you forget the minutes ticking away.
The visual quality is remarkable from start to finish. Endless snow, and dark pine forests - and actors being made to live in mediaeval conditions for ages before and during shooting give the film a certain 'edge' - although for me Marketa's hairstyle is unmistakably 1960s - and the film weaves a spell all of its own.
(Just for interest, compare it to 'Winstanley' - another "authentic" historical effort. Made for a tiny fraction of the cost of this one.)
'Marketa Lazarova' has to be seen - even if only once. It is a great film, using the word great in its proper sense. I doubt if it is perfect - other reviewers have pointed out the possible flaws - but once seen, it is not easily forgotten, and it's lovely that it is available in such a beautiful print.
The visual quality is remarkable from start to finish. Endless snow, and dark pine forests - and actors being made to live in mediaeval conditions for ages before and during shooting give the film a certain 'edge' - although for me Marketa's hairstyle is unmistakably 1960s - and the film weaves a spell all of its own.
(Just for interest, compare it to 'Winstanley' - another "authentic" historical effort. Made for a tiny fraction of the cost of this one.)
'Marketa Lazarova' has to be seen - even if only once. It is a great film, using the word great in its proper sense. I doubt if it is perfect - other reviewers have pointed out the possible flaws - but once seen, it is not easily forgotten, and it's lovely that it is available in such a beautiful print.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting visually, weak plot
I was expecting much more from this film than it could actually deliver in its 3 hour length,especially after many highly praising comments on amazon and imdb sites. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Yoselovich Boris
5.0 out of 5 stars
Czech Mate
1967?
This follows Jodorowsky and El Topo into the mystical tent of weird films that ply the visual senses. Read more
This follows Jodorowsky and El Topo into the mystical tent of weird films that ply the visual senses. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Dr. Delvis Memphistopheles
4.0 out of 5 stars
Near impossible to follow, but stunning nevertheless
I bought the Second Run DVD, after reading about how this epic was considered the best Czech film, ever.
To be honest, not many other contenders spring to mind. Read more
To be honest, not many other contenders spring to mind. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Tim Kidner
5.0 out of 5 stars
A masterpiece
Marketa Lazarová is a masterpiece. Forget the plot: it's incredibly violent, but that's largely by-and-by, because the film is narrated in such an elliptical way that we... Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2011 by J. Porter
4.0 out of 5 stars
An austere beauty
I agree with all the positive reviews that Marketa Lazarova is certainly an impressive work and deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Bergman's and Tarkovsky's middle-ages... Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2011 by mancheeros
3.0 out of 5 stars
Magnificently flawed
Regularly voted as one of the best, even the greatest ever Czech film, there can be few objections to this rating if applied only to its visual quality. Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2009 by Budge Burgess
4.0 out of 5 stars
Let's not get carried away
Firstly, I'll start by saying that I found this film astonishing on an aesthetic level. The imagery is remarkable, the sound design and score are faultless (in terms of the musical... Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2008 by T-Bomb
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Remarkable Find
I do not know why this film doesn't appear more often in the standard lists of great and top movies - what a treat to find a totally overlooked gem. Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2008 by Mr. G. C. Stone
5.0 out of 5 stars
Astounding Czech Cinema
Set in 13th century, a small group of characters are caught up in the violent feud between two neighbouring clans, two rival warlords. Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2008 by HJ
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