A sweeping, widescreen black and white 13th century historical epic, voted the best Czech film ever by a survey of Czech film critics in 1998 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Czech cinema, some truly spectacular imagery by Bedrick Batka, endless snowy landscapes with wolves running in the snow, original Medieval sounding chorus music written by Zdenek Liska which throbs throughout, like an unseen heart.
For lovers of the later films of Sergei Paradzhanov.


Set in medieval times when paganism was still strong, follows the violent exploits of a small, well off clan.

Unlike most Hollywood 'history', the film does not just put modern people in ancient times, but attempts to reconstruct the society and lifestyle. Very fluid and poetic camera work.

A rare film experience. The photography and landscape is as bleak and stark as the distilled human condition.

viewer's comments:

- humanity becomes unhinged

A sweeping, widescreen black and white 13th century historical epic, voted the best Czech film ever by a survey of Czech film critics in 1998 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Czech cinema, some truly spectacular imagery by Bedrick Batka, endless snowy landscapes with wolves running in the snow, original Medieval sounding chorus music written by Zdenek Liska which throbs throughout, like an unseen heart. With a FEW SPOILERS, this is truly a heartless story of two rival families, both are nearly indistinguishable, one is described as having more sons than sows, both appear equally cruel and tormenting, abducting one of the King's family, the kidnapped victim then falls in love with one of the earthy daughters, then one of the families kidnaps Marketa, an unbelievable performance by Magda Vasaryova, who plays the innocent, virginal daughter who has been promised by her father to the convent, a complete contrast to everything else seen on screen, which appears vile and dirty, rotten to the core, except Marketa. But she becomes the lover of the kidnapper, more like his slave, knowing no other protector, all have abandoned her, as her family was nearly wiped out in her capture, her father crucified to the entrance fence of her family's fortress. Evil is everywhere. But the King's Sheriff, representing the rule of German Christians, decides to hunt down the evil-doers, the hunters become the hunted, which results in a ferocious, mass slaughter, humanity becomes unhinged. Hell raises it's weary head. In an extraordinary transformation, the earthy daughter plunges a rock to her lover's head after his King wipes out her family, so much for love, and Marketa is led to the convent, nuns are arranged like paintings on the walls, a ritual of God's peace and forgiveness is rejected by Marketa. Unbelievably, she returns to be married to her kidnapper in his last, dying breath. She has become transformed into pure evil, with nowhere to wander in the desolate, wintry countryside except with a simpleton with a flair for Biblical verse, who chases off after a goat instead of tending to Marketa, who wanders alone, seemingly forever.

- Amazing

Alright, the movie is amazing. Although I felt a whole lot of it just washed over me and I didn't take it in fully, it was still beautiful. The plot centers around warring clans during the middle ages. That's all I can really say. It sounds really basic but it goes so deep. I have got to say, that I was so intrigued upon leaving the film, that I was ready to see it again right away despite its three hour running time. The one problem that one might encounter when trying to view Marketa Lazarova is actually being able to SEE it. By chance I saw that there would be a single screening of the film at the Bam Rose Cinema in Brooklyn. They mentioned that it had come earlier in the year so hopefully it is one of those films that will keep coming back every once in a while. Be on the lookout if you are a New Yorker, and if you aren't, plan your vacation to New York around this movie.


- hard-to-find but brilliant

I've only seen this movie once, in a restored print at a film festival a few years back; it's apparently not available on video in the US, which is a real shame. It's a medieval epic, basically about the clash between the old pagan world and the emerging Christian one, but there's a lot more to it than that. Visually, it's nearly as stunning as *Andrei Rublev* (and a good bit faster-paced); some of the images - wolves roaming the barren forests, horsemen in snowstorms - will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. I'll admit that I'm a sucker for gloomy, wintry European art movies, especially if they work some bloody sword-fights in, too, but this is one of the overlooked Great Movies ...

- For lovers of the later films of Sergei Paradzhanov

Set in medieval times when paganism was still strong, follows the violent exploits of a small, well off clan.

Unlike most Hollywood 'history', the film does not just put modern people in ancient times, but attempts to reconstruct the society and lifestyle. Very fluid and poetic camera work.

This is not a film for everyone.


Director: Frantisek Vlácil
Writers: Frantisek Pavlícek, Vladislav Vancura (novel)

Cast overview, first billed only:
Josef Kemr ... Kozlík
Magda Vásáryová ... Marketa Lazarova
Nada Hejna ... Katerina
Jaroslav Moucka ... Jan
Frantisek Velecký ... Mikolás
Karel Vasicek ... Jirí
Ivan Palúch ... Adam 'One-handed'
Martin Mrazek ... Václav
Václav Sloup ... Simon
Pavla Polaskova ... Alexandria
Alena Pavlíková ... Drahuse
Michal Kozuch ... Lazar
Zdenek Lipovcan ... Jakub
Harry Studt ... Old Count Kristián
Vlastimil Harapes ... Young Count Kristián

Country:Czechoslovakia
Language:Czech with English subtitles
Release Date:24 November 1967 (Czechoslovakia)
Also Known As:Marketa Lazarova
Runtime:180 min
Sound Mix:Mono
Color:Black and White