Daisies is produced in a communist country during the period of liberalization known as the Prague Spring. With an anarchic narrative structure and little plot, jump cuts and visual montages rather than continuity editing, and experiments in color, it is very different from Hollywood films made at the same time. Could the narrative or stylistic elements of the film be making a political statement? Could the film have something to say about its political context?
This film, in some sense, is political, or at least it is a product of a very political time period. The style of filmmaking is similar to the style of Soviet Montage, although it also holds more of a radical element that separates it from Soviet films. The time period of Prague Spring, to simplify, was essentially a time where citizens in Czechoslovakia were granted additional rights, for a time. The period is defined by loosening regulations on media and public speech, and Daisies represents that. It almost feels like a halfway mesh between Soviet films and maybe even French New Wave. The film is entirely about experimentation, and seeing what works and what doesn't, with little care for plot or structure. In a way, it holds the core principles of Soviet montage, although it for sure makes itself something different. The way the film is fragmented reminds me almost of Breathless, in the way that certain rules of filmmaking are broken and with how divided it seems. Although I don't fully understand what this film means, I can safely say that it is a cultural artifact of Prague Spring, as it not only represents the attempt to shuffle away from Soviet montage, but it also demonstrates the desire to freely express through art and film.
ReplyDeleteThe film "Daisies" is a clear critique on Communism and a usage of slander of the Soviet Union as a film. The film was set in the nation of Czechoslovakia, a quasi puppet nation under the Soviet block after the Great Patriotic War also known as the Second World War. Many people under the Soviet regime of Czechoslovak-SSR were dissatisfied - there economy was often exploited, with industry, resources, foodstuffs, people, and money often being pillaged from the nation of Czechoslovakia. Oppressive Soviet culture blocked many cultural practices and religious practices able to be performed in Czechoslovakia. This is clearly shown in the film "Daisies". The film uses montage, similar to the Soviet montage seen in the film ”Battleship Potemkin”. However, the montage is much more convoluted and confusing period one of the ways they do this and criticize communism at the same time is by using the idea that the girls are beheaded but also move in almost robotic fashion. This invokes the feeling of the “uncanny valley” where people are felt unnerved and often disgusted by humanoid objects, especially those which are mechanical, lifeless, and mauled. In the film, one of the most iconic scenes is where the girls attack each other with scissors and end up beheading each other period this causes the feeling of the uncanny valley by invoking the fear of mortality in humans but also the fear of a violation of human norms. Basically, by seeing the floating heads, we are unnerved by the idea that these almost quasi human like figures can't exist. During the Second World War, the Soviet Union used human wave offensives, which often resulted in the deaths of thousands of soldiers. Not only this, due to the poor quality of life in both the forced work camps, but in the industries themselves, many people died or got sick and died later due to illnesses and injuries caused during the Second World War period to combat this, the Soviet Union made it the most honorable thing that a Soviet citizen could do is to die for the motherland while attempting to protect its sovereignty. The film "Daisies" directly contradicts this by unnerving the population of the people who are supposed to be that but are not. Not only this, another way that anti-communism is shown it's through the entirety of the film when the girls tell each other that they are not friends anymore. When Soviet forces liberated Czechoslovakia, they were supposed to be given democratic elections. However, these elections were rigged. This greatly angered the Czechoslovak people which is shown during the film when the two friends are telling each other that they are no longer friends. The soviet union, which is supposed to act both as a friend and a father figure towards Czechoslovakia, exploited it, which ended the possible friendship, inevitably culminating in the exiting of the Czechoslovakia-SSR in the late 1980s. Another way that anti communism was shown in the film “Daisies” is through eating. Throughout the film, both friends eat, which combinating in them going to a banquet that is not for them and stealing all of the food. However, the girls are only truly happy and not fighting when they are eating. Under the Soviet system, due to the fact that the Soviet Union exported much of its grain overseas, nations like the Ukraine-SSR but also Czechoslovakia, Germany, and often every non Russia-SSR nation had to starve. By showing that by both stealing, and eating, which were both seen as the most unmoral things Capitalists could do, and showing that the girls were only truly happy then, Capitalists were shown as a better alternative than communism. This basically showed that under communism the population was unhappy because they were not given enough nutrition, directly targeting communism, the leadership, and the organizational skills of the Soviet Union. The final way that anticommunism was shown in the film was when the film directly targeted the communist policing system at the very end of the film.
ReplyDeleteThe narrative and stylistic elements of the film "Daisies" could be interpreted as making a powerful political statement about the cultural and political context in which it was produced. Created in Czechoslovakia during the period of liberalization known as the Prague Spring, and its anarchic structure and experimental techniques were radically different from the conventional Hollywood films made during the same era.
ReplyDeleteOne of the key ways that "Daisies" makes a political statement is through its narrative structure. The film eschews a traditional plot in favor of a non-linear, anarchic structure that feels more like a stream of consciousness than a traditional story. This can be interpreted as a deliberate rejection of the rigid narrative structures that were prevalent in Soviet-era cinema, as well as a reflection of the political upheaval of the Prague Spring. By refusing to conform to traditional storytelling conventions, the film asserts its independence from the strictures of Soviet censorship and control.
The film's use of jump cuts and visual montages is also highly significant from a political perspective. Jump cuts, which involve cutting abruptly from one shot to another without any transition, can be interpreted as a rejection of the continuity editing techniques that were popular in Hollywood at the time. By using jump cuts, the filmmakers are deliberately disrupting the audience's expectations and challenging them to think about the film in a different way. Similarly, the film's use of visual montages, which involve layering multiple images on top of each other to create a collage-like effect, can be interpreted as a reflection of the chaotic political and social climate of the Prague Spring.
Another key aspect of "Daisies" that makes a political statement is its use of color. The film is notable for its bold, saturated colors, which are a far cry from the muted palettes that were common in Soviet-era cinema. This use of color can be interpreted as a deliberate rejection of the drab, monochromatic aesthetic that was favored by Soviet censors, and a celebration of the joy and vitality of life. By using color in this way, the filmmakers are asserting their creative independence and challenging the strictures of Soviet censorship.
"Daisies" also uses food and eating to criticize communism. For example, in one scene, the two main characters of the film, Marie I and Marie II, are shown indulging in an extravagant feast, gorging themselves on all kinds of delicious foods and drinks. This scene can be interpreted as a commentary on the excess and decadence of the ruling elite in communist countries, who often enjoyed lavish feasts and extravagant lifestyles while the rest of the population struggled to make ends meet. In another scene, the Maries are shown sitting in a restaurant, staring at a menu that is full of fancy and expensive dishes. They are unable to afford any of these dishes, and instead resort to stealing food from the plates of other diners. This scene can be interpreted as a commentary on the scarcity and poverty that were prevalent in many communist countries, where food and other basic necessities were often in short supply. Additionally, throughout the film, the Maries are shown engaging in all kinds of strange and anarchic behaviors, including destroying food and playing with their food. This can be interpreted as a critique of the rigid conformity and strictures of Soviet censorship, which sought to control all aspects of artistic expression and personal behavior.
Overall, "Daisies" is a powerful political statement that reflects the cultural and political context in which it was produced. By rejecting traditional narrative structures, experimenting with editing techniques, and celebrating the joy and vitality of life through bold, saturated colors, the filmmakers were challenging the strictures of Soviet censorship and asserting their creative independence. The film stands as a testament to the power of art to inspire and provoke, and to the importance of artistic freedom in any society.
The film, Daisies by Vera Chytilova in 1966 in communist Czechoslovakia makes a political statement about the dynamics of communism. During the 1960s in Czechoslovakia, there was a large cultural movement from the West. This film was a part of this large cultural movement. This film doesn’t follow the typical style of film as it doesn’t have proper continuity throughout the film. Since a large aspect of the communist government was control, by having a film that is quite free and chaotic, it resists the communist government. The use of editing in this film created this free and chaotic style that works with this cultural movement. Jump cuts are abrupt transitions between two different scenes. The use of jump cuts in this film creates discontinuity and makes the film lose its natural flow. This enhances on the chaotic aspect of this film, working against the Soviets. Beyond the editing styles of the film, the actions that the characters take also show the film's political statement. The characters talk about how, since the world is bad, they may as well be bad in this world as well. They go around and have fun, such as having a giant feast which turns into a giant food fight. In the end, they are punished and given the death penalty. This sends the message that we shouldn’t be worrying about the small things but rather, we should be protesting and fighting against the communist party. In conclusion, the film style and the actions that the main characters take send a message to fight against the communist party.
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