Perinbaba

This is a really good movie. It s the film of my childhood, and I suppose that everybody in Slovakia and Czech Republic know this movie well. It s a cult film, some kind of fairytale, but not a common one. For the director Juraj Jakubisko is typical some oddity in his works,you have to see it to understand,some people look up on him as an eccentric, but I m sure many people will enjoy it. At least it s not suitable only for children:-)For these who do not understand who Perinbaba is, she s a woman giving snow to the earth and people of course. Baba means woman in slovak, some kind of an old odd woman, or a slang word for a teenage girl, and perina means a duvet, comforter(?) I can proudly recommend this slovak movie, featuring foreign actors.

This is loosely based on the traditional fairy tale "Mother Holle" by the Brothers Grimm. The character of Mother Holle is using feathers to create wind and snow. She seems like a force of nature. She can also make rainbows and is immortal, but more so has a long lifespan because time is different where she lives. She takes on an orphan boy Jacob who becomes immortal while only living in Mother Holle's mountain place. When he visited the tower just to look at the outside world and breathe fresh air, it aged him. The whole film is extremely enchanting and also amusing in places. Jacob falls in love with a girl named Elizabeth whose step mother and step sister mistreat her while her father is just plainly oblivious. While this bares no resemblance to the fairy tale that I grew up with, it doesn't matter. This is a gorgeous film with a satisfying story.

There were many movies that I really wanted to review but this is the one that has finally forced me to register.

Perinbaba is a cult film in Slovakia (and Czech Republic to some extent). It is broadcasted every year during Christmas holidays, everyone knows it and everyone has seen it and rightfully so. The director, Juraj Jakubisko, is very artistic - too artistic actually, most of his movies are simply too allegorical for most of the viewers to enjoy. But for some reason, when it comes to this fairy tale, it works perfectly.

Well, it is a fairy tale only on paper. And I viewed it as a fairy tale when I was a kid (and I enjoyed it very much). But once you become an adult, you start to notice all the metaphors and allegories in this movie and you begin to enjoy it even more.

As a kid, you watch this movie and you see a fairy tale about a young boy falling in love and pursuing that love, despite having to face many obstacles in order to do so. As an adult, you see a very real, hidden story of a man coming of age, a story of love, sex, greed, lust, death...

A young boy, Jakub, sheltered from the world by the motherly figure Perinbaba escapes his "mother's nest" despite her efforts to keep him protected forever. He does it for a girl, Alžbetka, and he is forced to face the real world. An world full of evil, sadness, even Death herself. And a world full of beauty, beauty that is worth all the suffering.

It is not a typical fairy tale. Yes, it has some aspects of a fairy tale, but in some aspects it is also a horror movie, it is a very sexual movie (though this is cleverly hidden from the younger audiences, maybe even most of the adult audiences) and most of all, it is a movie about every man's journey from childhood to adulthood. The Slovak folklore, culture, mentality and the style of Jakubisko might make it a bit hard to understand and fully appreciate for foreign viewers, but you should give it a try nevertheless.

I am very tempted to say 10/10, but OK, 9/10 (just to leave 10/10 for really PERFECT movies).

This artistic tale about fight between BAD & GOOD in the world by eyes of FAMOUS Juraj Jakubisko; is just must-see for everyone who would like to get familiar with Austro-Hungarian Empire with the magical touch of Maestro Jakubisko. Gives me goosebumps every time I watch it. The everyday struggle of main characters Alzbetka and Jakubko, who are growing up in different worlds is put into beautiful Central European woods. Their paths finally crosses and they have to fight for their happiness and destiny. I strongly recommend it to all age categories, it's such a refreshing breeze after all other modern Christmas movies. Also my 6y o kid loves it.

Here's a seemingly simple fairy tale movie that's palpably beautiful on every level -- visually,emotionally, and as an unfettered act of imagination.

Giulietta Masina is the Feather Fairy (Perinbaba), a grandmotherly character whose role is to provide snow for the world. Her interactions with the young boy are loving and ripe with wisdom and compassion. She is played physically by Federico Fellini's wife, and vocally by a talented Slovak actress. Her voice-over ability to define the character is no less powerful than Masina's, so that the role is a brilliant and seamless collaboration.

The film is gorgeous to watch, thanks to the spectacular Slovak mountain landscape location, and the straightforward beauty of white feathers seen floating against a sunny deep-blue sky.