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Marketa Lazarov
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Wikipedia article
'Marketa Lazarov' is a 1967 Czechoslovak epic period drama directed by Frantiek Vlil. It is an adaptation of the novel 'Marketa Lazarov' (1931) by Vladislav Vanura. The film takes place in the middle of 13th century, and tells the story of a daughter of a feudal lord who is kidnapped by neighbouring robber knights and becomes a mistress of one of them.
'Marketa Lazarov' was voted the all-time best Czech movie in a 1998 poll of Czech film critics and publicists.
Theodor Pitk designed the costumes for the film.
Plot
Part 1
The sons of Kozlk, a robber clan leader, ambush a group travelling to Mlad Boleslav in winter. The new Bishop of Hennau, an ally of the Bohemian king, escapes, but his young son Kristian and his assistant are taken. Mikol, one of Kozlk's sons, finds the neighbouring clan leader Lazar scavenging the site but spares his life as he prays to Christ. They both have a holy vision involving Lazar's virgin daughter, Marketa. At their settlement, Kozlk chastises Mikol for letting a man escape, bringing captives, and sparing Lazar. His rage increases when he overhears his other son Adam saying that they could have used the escaped bishop as leverage against the king. His daughter Alexandra takes a liking to Kristian, much to Adam's disgust. (She had previously once indulged and once rejected an affair with Adam. When their mother Katarina found out and told Kozlk, Adam lost his arm as punishment for the incest.)Kozlk answers a royal summons to Boleslav. The king's captain attempts to seize him, but he escapes, chased by wolves back to the settlement. Anticipating a regiment led by the captain, the clan retreats into the woods. Mikol visits Lazar, urging him to help Kozlk ambush the regiment. Marketa is shocked to see Mikol brutally beaten and driven out. A small group sent by Kozlk to avenge the beating finds the regiment already at Lazar's settlement. They kill the captain's closest knight and retreat. The captain swears justice and revenge.
Lazar and Marketa visit the nunnery, but Lazar does not have enough money for her to take vows. Returning their settlement, they find it captured by Mikol and his men, who kill Lazar's mentally disabled son. As Lazar begs for his life, Mikol demands Marketa in exchange. He protests, but they nail him to the gate and take Marketa. At their forest stronghold, Mikol rapes Marketa and then protects her from Kozlk's wrath. Meanwhile, Kristian has impregnated Alexandra. Kozlk chains both couples on a nearby hill.
Part 2
When the captain's regiment arrives at the stronghold with Adam as a captive, Kozlk allows the four back inside. In an initial rash attack, the captain is repulsed but Adam dies. He then mounts a successful second attack. Kristian sees Alexandra chased by the attackers and is torn between loyalty to his father and love for her. He stumbles away beaten while a dream-like flashback shows him explaining his love for Alexandra and their future child to his dismayed father. He reaches Lazar's abandoned settlement and meets Bernard, a priest and former victim of the robber clan. He collapses, recovers, and walks through a pack of wolves back into the woods. Meanwhile, Alexandra, Mikol, and Marketa have escaped the captain, who has taken Kozlk captive to Boleslav. Alexandra finds Kristian crawling through the woods and hits him on the head with a stone. Kristian's father eventually finds her and demands to know where his body is buried, and finally she is arrested.Marketa returns to Lazar, who survived, but he rejects her. In a trance-like state, she travels to the nunnery and begins to take her vows just as Mikol attempts to free Kozlk from the Boleslav dungeon. A child finds her and takes her arm. She leaves the ceremony to find Mikol dying in the castle courtyard from wounds suffered in the attempt. The captain marries Mikol and Marketa on the spot. Kozlk sees the marriage and is taken away while Mikol dies. Brother Bernard finds Marketa in the wilderness and offers to travel with her in search of a new life. In the final scene, Marketa wanders on as the narrator reveals that she and Alexandra each had a son and that Marketa breastfed both boys.
Cast
*Josef Kemr as Kozlk, a bandit yeoman who resides at Rohek. Lazar's rival.
*Frantiek Veleck as Mikol, Kozlk's second born son
*Ivan Palch as Adam-Jednoruka, Kozlk's son
*Pavla Polkov as Alexandra, Kozlk's daughter
*Michal Kouch as Lazar, a bandit yeoman. Kozlk's rival.
*Magda Vryov as Marketa Lazarov, Lazar's daughter
*Harry Studt as Kristin, Saxon Count whose son is abducted by Kozlk's sons
*Vlastimil Harapes as Kristin, son of a Saxon noble who is taken prisoner by Kozlk's clan
*Zdenk Kryznek Captain Pivo, the leader of the royal army
*Zdenk eho as Sovika, Pivo's second in command
*Naa Hejn as Kateina, Kozlk's wife.
*Vladimr Menk as Bernard, a wandering monk
*Karla Chadimov as the Abbess
*Jaroslav Mouka as Jan, Kozlk's first born son
*Pavel Landovsk as Smil, Kozlk's son.
*Zdenk tpnek as Narrator (voice)
*Petr Kostka as Mikol (voice)
*Ladislav Trojan as Adam-Jednoruka (voice)
*Karolina Slunkov as Alexandra, Kozlk's daughter (voice)
*Martin Rek as Lazar (voice)
*Gabriela Vrnov as Marketa Lazarov (voice)
*Klaus-Peter Thiele as Kristin (voice)
*Antonie Hegerlkov as Kateina (voice)
Themes
The film is set in medieval Bohemia at a time when Christianity had not fully replaced Paganism. Conflict between Christianity and Paganism, mirroring a conflict between the clans and central authority, is a major theme. The Kozlk clan leans toward Paganism while the royal regiment represent Christianity and authority. Meanwhile, Lazar's clan is nominally Christian but politically neutral. Kozlk wants Lazar to support him in the fight but Lazar refuses and sides with the king, leading to the abduction of his daughter.
Similarly, the romance between Markta and Mikol, who rapes her but later protects and loves her, represents a meeting of purity and innocence with worldly violence. The film highlights Mikol's ferocity and unrestrainment. This interplays with the romance between Mikol's sister Alexandra and Kristin, in which the roles are reversed. Kristin's love for Alexandra contradicts Mikol's love for Marketa; he is uncertain in it due to his loyalty to his father.
Royal scenes that were cut from the film were supposed to show contradictions between the Kozlk clan and the royal family. Their difference was to be shown in a struggle for property and power. Desire for the crown leads to hatred between brothers and of sons towards their father, common in big royal families but not in small families. The film also shows conflict between Mikol and Adam. Neither is the oldest son but they are both likely candidates to replace Kozlk as clan leader.
Production
represented Medieval Boleslav.
Before production started, Frantiek Vlil and Frantiek Pavlek had to transfer the novel into screenplay. The text of the book was linguistically difficult and the transfer took a few years. The whole works on 'Marketa Lazarov' took seven years.
Production itself took three years. The shooting started in 1964 and concluded in 1966. It took 548 days. The film was shot at multiple places in the current Czech Republic such as Lnsk obora, Mrtv luh and Klokon Castle. Shooting took place during extreme conditions of tough winter. The intended budget was 7 million crowns but the film cost almost 13 million crowns in the end. The expensiveness of the film was one of the reasons for making 'The Valley of the Bees' in which Vlil used costumes and decorations intended for 'Marketa Lazarov'. The film was finished in 1967. Some parts were shot in Slovakia.
Royal Pictures
The film was originally intended to be longer. Vlil wanted to make scenes named "Royal Pictures". These were supposed to be set at the royal court. These would feature the Czech king Wenceslaus I of Bohemia and the conflict between him and his son Ottokar II of Bohemia. These scenes were never filmed because the budget was already too high and the film would be longer than three hours.Plot
The first picture would show old Kristin coming to the Royal Court asking for help to save his son. Present nobles would blame the king for being passive in the matter. The second picture would be set two years prior to the events. It would show the prince being convinced to overthrow his father. The prince would then start remembering when his father returned from a hunt injured and met his sons. The prince was afraid of him. Another picture would be set in the aftermath of the film's events. Pivo brings old Kristin and Alexandra to the king. Alexandra is to be punished for murdering young Kristin but old Kristin asks to pardon her because of her pregnancy. The king orders the prince to be brought to the court. The prince was imprisoned after his attempt to overthrow the king. Pivo starts remembering events of the military campaign against Kozlk. The king unsuccessfully tries to humiliate his son; the question of pardon for Alexandra becomes a secondary matter as the conflict between king and prince becomes a conflict about conception of rule. The king leaves the decision about pardon to Alexandra to Kristin.
Soundtrack
The music for 'Marketa Lazarov' was composed by Zdenk Lika. It is based on medieval composition. There are motives of Gregorian chant. The music emphasizes the conflict between the Christian and the Pagan world.
The soundtrack was released in 1996 as part of edition by publishers Zna and Bonton Music.
In 2015, Petr Ostrouch was permitted by Lika's descendants to make a concert of music from 'Marketa Lazarov'. It was held on 9 October 2015 at Karln. It was part of the musical festival Struny podzimu and a recording was released as a double album in 2018.
Differences between the film and novel
The film is based on Vladislav Vanura's novel of the same name. The film isn't a faithful adaptation and there are many differences. The film includes some elements from 'Obrazy z djin nroda eskho' that weren't present in the 'Marketa Lazarov' novel. The character of Monk Bernard and the unrealised Royal Pictures originate from 'Obrazy z djin nroda eskho'.
The novel wasn't a historically accurate capture of the age of setting. The film tries to be more historically accurate wanted to capture the world of 13th century. It was visible in the Royal Pictures that was to be set at the Royal Court of Wenceslaus I of Bohemia.
Another major difference is that Alexandra's fate is left unresolved in the film. This was caused by the removal of the Royal Pictures that would include her trial at the royal court and suicide.
Release
The film premiered on 24 November 1967. The film was watched by 1.3 million people in theaters. The film was inaccessible for a long period of time after it left Cinemas.
When the film was screened at San Francisco Film Festival in 1968 the critics wrote "This is one of the most artistic and convincing medieval epics ever made, plunging us into the past with a relentless assault upon the visual senses with both dazzling and horrifying effects."
On 30 August 1974, 'Marketa Lazarov' premiered in the United States. It was shortened to 100 minutes for the American market. Reviews for this version were mixed. The film's reputation was restored after the original version was made available in the United States in 2011.
The restored version returned to Czech cinemas on 13 October 2011. The premiere was presented by Magdalna Vryov. Varyov stated that she was moved by the number of young people who expressed interest in the film.
Video release
In 2009, Bontonfilm announced it will release 'Marketa Lazarov' for DVD and Blu-ray. Bontonfilm didn't have enough finances for restoration and thus cancelled the plan. The situation changed in 2011, when the film was digitally restored by UPP. Restoration cost 2 million Czech crowns. It was financed by the Czech Ministry of Culture and Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The digitalized version of the film premiered on 2 July 2011 at Karlovy Vary film festival. The film was released in the Czech Republic on DVD on 8 December 2011. The film was released worldwide on DVD and Blu-ray by the Criterion Collection in 2012.Reception
Critical reception
The film has received universal acclaim from critics. On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 100% based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 9.40/10. In 1968, the magazine 'Film a doba' held a survey of film critics to choose the best Czechoslovak film of 1967. 'Marketa Lazarov' won the survey and received 344 votes, beating films such as 'Firemens Ball' and 'Daisies'. It also received more votes than any film from foreign films category. During Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 1994 'Marketa Lazarov' was voted the best Czech film ever made. The film was also voted the greatest Czech film of all time in a national critics' poll.[http://www.kfilmu.net/filmy.php?sekce=informace&film=marketa-lazarova Marketa Lazarov] on kfilmu.net (in Czech) 'Marketa Lazarov' also won several awards. It was awarded at Mar del Plata International Film Festival and Edinburgh International Film Festival.Public reception
The film was also successful with audiences. It was attended by more than 1 million people in Czechoslovak cinemas. 'Marketa Lazarov' was voted best Czech film of 1965-1967 period with 28% of votes in a survey by Tden.cz. The film also placed 5th in a Public survey by Media Desk.Accolades
Legacy
'Marketa Lazarov' is widely considered the best Czech film ever made and the best film directed by Frantiek Vlil. It is also considered one of the best historical films of all time. The film was already critically acclaimed in 1967 and received many positive reviews and won a survey for the best film. Vlil himself wasn't satisfied with the film and stated that he expected more. The reason for his dissatisfaction was the failure to realise Royal Pictures as he believed that it was a pivotal part of the film.
There was a survey of journalists during the 1994 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival to choose the best Czech film ever made. 'Marketa Lazarov' won the survey. Another poll was held in 1998. 55 Czech and Slovak film critics and publicists voted 'Marketa Lazarov' the Best Czech-Slovak film of all time. 'Marketa Lazarov' also topped a 2007 survey of 'Reflex' magazine publicists. Tden.cz held surveys to choose the best Czech film of every epoch. 'Marketa Lazarov' was voted the best Czech film of the 1965-1967 period.
Casablanca Publisher released the book 'Marketa Lazarov: Studies and Documents' in 2009. It is a study of the film edited by Petr Gajdok. It consists of various studies, interviews and articles about the film.
Other adaptations
The novel was adapted into a Theatre play in 2013. It premiered on 16 November 2013 at ABC Theatre. Dramaturgist Vra Makov stated that the play focuses on emotions and Theatrical Poetry. The play was directed by Pavel Khek, and it starred Veronika Khek Kubaov as Marketa and Tom Novotn as Mikol. Tom stka gave the play 60% in his review for iDnes.cz. He stated that it tries to focus on wider audience and retain medieval brutality. He praised that it managed to show the lyrical side of the novel, but noted that the medieval reality of the novel is in clear contrast with a theatrical environment.
See also
* The Devil's Trap
* List of films considered the best
* List of Czech films considered the best
* List of films with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
* The Valley of the Bees
References
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