Clearly the inspiration for Richard Blackburn's "Lemora - A Child's Tale of the Supernatural", this Czech fairy tale is visually sumptuous and thoroughly confusing. Gorgeous Valerie (Jaroslava Schallerová), a spry thirteen year old, is transported into an art deco wonderland where she encounters dozens of strange people and has her sexuality ignited. The score by Lubos Fiserand and Jan Klusák is the perfect accompaniment to Valerie's surreal adventure. Similar in tone to the excellent "Maladolescenza", but lacking that film's elements of cruelty. There is much going on in Valerie's world, but it is difficult to make sense of it much of the time. Still, a feast for the senses and a noble attempt at cinematic idealism.
