Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Happy End (1967)

Happy End (1967)
Happy End (1967)
Czech New Wave
Genre: Comedy
Director: Oldrich Lipský
Starring: Vladimír Mensík, Jaroslava Obermaierová, Josef Abrhám
Language: Czech
Duration: 71 min.
Rating: 7.5
Summary:
The bold and experimental story of the life of a butcher, told in reverse.
Happy End (1967)
Happy End is a comedy film from the Czech New Wave, directed by Oldrich Lipský (Lemonade Joe), co-written with Milos Macourek. One of the most unique concepts to come out of Czech cinema, this is an experimental tribute to silent films and slapstick comedy, that tells the tragic story of a condemned man entirely in reverse.

It opens with a shot of the severed head of Bedrich Frydrych (Vladimír Mensík), a butcher who murders his wife and her lover, and is sentenced to the guillotine. Narrated as if his execution was his birth, and operating on the 'time destroys all' premise that Gaspar Noé would become famous for exploring 35 years later, what follows is Frydrych's life story with all the action playing out completely backwards, going all the way back to his childhood. As absurd and confusing as that sounds, the result is quite hilarious and amazing to watch.

Shown the other way around, the film would have been a rather mundane betrayal and murder story, but in reverse it makes for quite a twisted comedy with some truly hilarious moments.

Bizarre and disturbing scenes such as Frydrych carrying his wife's dismembered body home from the police station in a suitcase, and then assembling her back together at home, or a plate full of cookies being chewed and regurgitated back onto the table.

In addition to the backwards action, the lines of dialog are also spoken in reverse order leading to some incredibly surreal and nonsensical conversations with answers given before questions, and constantly out of context exclamations being made.

Much credit goes to Miroslav Hájek, the film's editor, as I can't imagine how much work it took to keep track of everything by hand; and at 71 minutes, the film is just the right length, ending just as the idea fully runs out of steam.
Bonjour Tristesse
Happy End (1967)

Happy End (1967)

Happy End (1967)

Happy End (1967)

Happy End (1967)

Happy End (1967)

Happy End (1967)

Happy End (1967)

6 comments:

d_4 said...

See initially I thought I might not be too into this one. What's cool is, I'm deeply intrigued right now. I'm gonna see if I can give it priority.

Michaël Parent said...

Great post! I've been having problems posting comments on your blog lately since my internet browser, an old IE at my job blocks me. I have been reading you since but wasn't able to comment...

FrontRoomCinema said...

I probably will never see this film, but I always love that you grab the best screenies!! Thanks BT

Bonjour Tristesse said...

It's on youtube if you want to see what it's like, sadly not with subtitles though.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

No problem. I still appreciate your visits.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Scott. If the LAMB had an award for most loyal commenter, it would go to you.

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