Gorgeously shot, intriguingly surreal, and thrillingly sensual, this Czech retelling of the beloved fairytale is unlike any adaptation before or since.
The most uncanny and fierce adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, the film follows the innocent Julie and her experiences living under the watchful eye of Netvor, a bird-like being torn between his growing affection for her and his animalistic urge to kill. Directed by Juraj Herz of the Czech New Wave, Herz masterfully infuses the 18th-century French fairytale of impossible affection with the aesthetics of gothic horror. Restored by Národní filmový archiv, Prague and Severin Films, supported by The Czech Audiovisual Fund. [91 min; horror, fantasy; Czech with English subtitles]
“Both a vital addition to—and a radical departure from—the tradition of fairytales on film. Our most darkly seductive fantasies are the ones we never admit to, and Juraj Herz is a wizard at getting them right.” – David Melville, Senses of Cinema
“Offers a dark, unsettling take on the familiar fairytale, embracing the power of visual storytelling to create a world that feels both enchanting and deeply unnerving.” – Livvy O’Brien, Drink in the Movies
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