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Otherwise, however, the rather dark story is excellently cast and filmed in interesting locations. Although it is labeled as a fairy tale, it is more of a horror film. The already spooky atmosphere was brought to perfection by Petr Hapka’s music.

According to audience reviews, everyone who watched the “fairy tale” as a child remembers the phenomenal and convincing performance of Ivana Chylková and Boris Rösner. The children’s parents were a little scared by the Christmas story, but the children followed the story with one breath. It was something unprecedented for them and completely different from ordinary fairy tales.

About the story

The tired mother (Jana Hlaváčová) has had enough of her sons’ anger. When she runs out of patience, her tongue is too fast. Before the mother realizes the extent of her words, she utters a curse:

I curse you, you curmudgeons!

However, the writer Bozena Němcová gives the brothers a chance and their sister Bohdanka tries to save them. You played here Mária Podhradská from Slovakia.

Why the Seven Ravens is an interesting story that will definitely not offend

The Seven Crows fairy tale differs from other fairy tales in several important elements that give it a specific character. Bozena Němcová is an icon of the literary world of fairy tales, but all her stories are not only filled with happiness and love. The writer herself often did not have an easy life, which was also reflected in her work.

The Seven Ravens is one of the darkest fairy tales, although the label fantasy would be more appropriate if we perceive the fairy tale as a story with a clear structure of good and evil, which always ends happily.

Here, the narrative begins with a curse that turns the naughty but otherwise positive characters into ravens, bringing sadness and despair to the lives of all involved. But the mother who uttered the curse can no longer take back her words.

The representative of the Bohdanky girl at the present time

The viewer will thus be served something different from what is offered in ordinary fairy tales. In the foreground is the rescue of an entire group of people. Evil is not represented by a character, but an ordinary human error committed by a good person. The main character (again unconventional) does not have to fight any evil, but it is rather a very clear demonstration of forgiveness and repentance. This could have been very instructive especially in earlier times.

The main character Bohdanka is not a warrior, a brave princess or a person endowed with supernatural abilities. The kind-hearted Bohdanka decides to save her brothers. It mainly requires determination, sacrifice, patience and perseverance.

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Bozena Němcová also reached for animal symbolism this time. The raven is not just any ordinary bird. In many cultures in the past it was associated with darkness and with supernatural powers. Here, ravens are a symbol of curse and social isolation.

All the differences from the traditional model of fairy tales make the story of the Seven Crows an opportunity to spend 80 minutes in interesting company. Connoisseurs may recognize the ruins of Boskovice Castle, where Bohdanka finds her brothers transformed into ravens. The filmmakers also visited Jan’s castle, Pernštejn and the Veselý kopec open-air museum in the Železné hory.

Broadcast on ČT1 on September 28, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.