Daisies (Czech title: Sedmikrásky) is a 1966 Czechoslovak New Wave film directed by Věra Chytilová. The film revolves around two teenage girls named Marie, who decide to be "bad" because the world is so spoiled. The two Maries, played by Jitka Cerhová and Ivana Karbanová, embark on a series of anarchic and destructive pranks, indulging in food, men, and fashion, and generally causing chaos wherever they go.
The film's narrative is nonlinear, with the Maries moving from one prank to another, often breaking the fourth wall to comment on their own actions. Their antics include stealing from a rich man, having a food fight at a restaurant, and destroying a banquet. The film also features surrealistic imagery, such as the Maries wearing dresses made from meat, riding horses through a battleground, and playing chess at a table floating in a lake.
The film is often seen as a feminist statement, with the Maries rejecting traditional gender roles and societal norms. However, it was banned by the Czechoslovak government shortly after its release, as it was seen as promoting decadence and questioning the Communist ideology. Despite this, the film became a cult classic and is now recognized as one of the greatest films of the Czechoslovak New Wave movement.
