Pysná princezna

Am a big fan of foreign fairy/folk tale films (among my favourite kinds of stories since forever), especially those from Russia, and Czechoslovakia proved with the likes of 'Three Wishes for Cinderella' and 'The Princess with the Golden Star' that it could do fairy/folk tale films extremely well. So hopes were high for 1952's 'The Proud Princess' when it appeared in my recomended for you section when reviewing 'The Princess with the Golden Star' over a year ago for those primary reasons.

'The Proud Princess' didn't disappoint, a real beauty with plenty to be proud of. Anybody that loves fairy/folk tale stories and films from around the world, or stories and films with elements should find a good deal to like about 'The Proud Princess'. Certainly did myself, love even, and found it every bit as great as the films mentioned above. It is to me up there as among the best Czech films overall as well (or at least of the films seen as of now, plenty more to see).

It's a good looking film, not elaborate as such but it's beautifully photographed and the attention to detail in the scenery and costuming enchants with a magical yet also realistic atmosphere created. Especially the shots of the wild woods. Even more enchanting is the music, absolutely love Czech music (being raised on the music of Dvorak and Smetana) and 'The Proud Princess' not only leaves my love for it unchanged but increased. So charming and infectious and the numbers are staged with naturalism and don't come over as static or overblown. Neither does any of the staging feel random.

Moreover, 'The Proud Princess' was directed in a way that indicated someone that knew what they were doing and had a lot of passion for the story. Bringing a lightness of touch, while not being too frothy, and it takes itself seriously in the right places without losing energy. The writing is both amusing and sincere, without getting saccharine or goofy, and the story entertains and charms with a real humanity that doesn't come over too heavily.

Really liked the characters, Krasomila at first does risk of falling into the trap of being annoying. Thankfully the initial snobbishness is not overplayed and the character progression doesn't feel too hasty or arrives too late. The most likeable character is Miroslav and it was very hard to resist the very endearing chemistry between the two leads. The performances are all natural and engaging, making their characters more than just fairy-tale cliches.

Concluding, wonderful. 10/10

Old but still moving tale, integral part of the Czech TV's Christmas for several generations and still is being discovered by young spectators.

It's very human and nice story about lofty princess (her father is amiable but incapable - unforgettable performance of S. Neumann) and good, nice, kind and well-principled young king (prince) who tries to make tender her calm heart to get married with her. After being refused (she's very capricious), he conclude to make her better. He start to work as a gardener at her castle (in secret) and successively bring she to her senses...The story continues when already reformed princess and the young king (she learn about his real identity later) have to take refuge from troops, that princess father (old king) has sent (of course he took a bad and mean counsellors advice). They have to take shelter by several ordinary and poor families, which are always very friendly and give them a help... Of course the tale has happy end.

Considering the fact that film was make in 1952 when the communist regime in Czechoslovakia was very rigid, you can feel a bit of labour ideals in the story (at the castle lives incapable king controlled by a mean counsellors, the well-principled people come only from "extramural settlement" and all are hard-workers exploited by aristocracy, the only exception is good king, but he's a worker as well - gardener - and his own serfs loves him...and so on). But there is no significant stress in this sense so the film remains dateless. The main thing that makes this film unique is fine film art and splendid story finesse with humour. It's the czech classical masterpiece and most favourite film in our film history ever (over 10 millions visitors in cinema so far - that's absolute record, the czech rep has 10 mil inhabitants today - and countless TV spectators), hardly could be overcome.