Birds, Orphans and Fools
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Birds, Orphans and Fools is a 1969 Czechoslovak film directed by Juraj Jakubisko. The film is about three people who are all orphaned by political violence. Set in an unspecified time and place, the movie is a parable about three people who face a tough, violent world and survive by adopting a childlike philosophy of life and live a life of foolish, joyful denial.
The film was released in 1969 and was shown that year at an international film festival in Sorrento, Italy. Soon after, though, the film was banned by the communist authorities until the end of the regime in 1989.
Plot
The main characters, Yorick, Martha and Ondrej, exist in a bleak, cynical world. All of them have been orphaned during a war. To survive, they adopt a childlike philosophy where they live in love and joy, and seem to be immune to despair. "Life is beautiful," screams the main characters.
The trio live with birds in a surrealistic, bombed church in the center of a city. At first it seems that they are all enjoying their lighthearted play. Foolishness is a drug. Or, as Yorick says, "only a fool can be a free man."
The key struggle is the relationship of the two men to Martha. Yorick develops a relationship with Martha quickly. Ondrej, a virgin, has a harder time getting close to Martha, not withstanding prodding by Yorick. In an odd move, Yorick has himself arrested and is sent to jail for a year during which time Martha and Ondrej's relationship develops.
Each of the characters in the film goes through a long internal development. The most apparent is that of Yorick, who after returning from prison, "lost the courage to be crazy". Ondrej seems to find passion in his love of Martha.
Jealousy of Ondrej and Martha's relationship incites Yorick to murder to Martha and her unborn baby and then commit suicide. Ondrej's fate remains unknown.
Cast
- Magda Vášáryová as Martha
- Jiří Sýkora as Yorick
- Philippe Avron as Ondrej
- Mila Beran as the domestic man
- Francoise Goldité as Saša
