#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE
Regarding the 1966 film Daisies (Sedmikrásky), the most famous figure in the cast at the time of its release was Jan Klusák. While the film is celebrated for casting non-professionals in the lead roles—Jitka Cerhová (Marie I) and Ivana Karbanová (Marie II)—Klusák was already a prominent and "enfant terrible" figure in the Czechoslovak avant-garde music scene.
Jan Klusák in Daisies
In Daisies, Klusák plays the role of the "Younger Playboy" (sometimes credited as the "Young Gentleman" or the "Butterfly Collector"). He appears in the famous scene where Marie II visits a man in his apartment filled with butterfly cases. While he professes his undying love for her, she remains entirely indifferent, focus solely on eating his food and eventually stripping behind his display cases.
Fame at the Time of Release
By 1966, Klusák was not primarily an actor but a renowned avant-garde composer. He was a pioneer of "New Music" in Czechoslovakia, specializing in dodecaphony and serialism—styles that were often at odds with the state-mandated "socialist realism." His involvement in the film was part of the tight-knit collaboration of the Czechoslovak New Wave, where intellectuals, musicians, and artists often took small roles in each other's projects.
Other Notable Films
Though 1966 marked his acting debut, it was a prolific year for him as both an actor and a composer. His other notable films include:
- A Report on the Party and Guests (O slavnosti a hostech, 1966): Released the same year as Daisies, this film features Klusák in a much larger and more significant role as an "absurd official" or apparatchik. Like Daisies, this film was famously "banned forever" by the Communist authorities for its political subversion.
- Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Valerie a týden divů, 1970): Klusák played the role of Gracián in this surrealist Gothic horror masterpiece directed by Jaromil Jireš.
- The Return of the Prodigal Son (Návrat ztraceného syna, 1966): He appeared in this psychological drama directed by Evald Schorm.
- Martyrs of Love (Mučedníci lásky, 1966): He had a role in this experimental triptych directed by Jan Němec.
Other Notable Contributors
While Klusák was the most famous acting presence, the film's "fame" also rested on its behind-the-scenes talent:
- Jiří Šlitr: He co-composed the music for Daisies. He was one of the biggest celebrities in Czechoslovakia at the time as half of the legendary Suchý & Šlitr duo from the Semafor Theatre.
- Jaromír Vomáčka: Another famous songwriter and pianist who appears in the film as the "Cheerful Man." Like Klusák, he was a well-known figure in the Prague cultural scene rather than a professional film actor.
#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)
[1] Daisies (Sedmikrásky) is a 1966 Czechoslovak film directed by Věra Chytilová.
[2] Jan Klusák was a prominent figure in the cast, especially given that the two leads were non-professionals.
[3] Jitka Cerhová and Ivana Karbanová were non-professional actors (a student and a salesclerk, respectively).
[4] Klusák was a well-known avant-garde composer and intellectual in 1966.
[5] Klusák is credited as 'Younger Playboy' (Mladý světák) or 'Young Gentleman'. The character is a butterfly collector.
[6] The scene involves Marie II visiting the butterfly collector in his apartment.
[7] In the scene, Marie II eats his food and strips/changes clothes while he professes his love.
[8] Klusák was primarily a composer of 'New Music' (serialism, dodecaphony).
[9] Klusák starred in 'A Report on the Party and Guests' (1966).
[10] He played the character Rudolf, who functions as an enforcer/official/apparatchik in the allegory.
[11] The film was banned by the Communist authorities (specifically 'banned forever' from distribution at one point).
[12] Klusák played Gracián in 'Valerie and Her Week of Wonders' (1970).
[13] He appeared in 'The Return of the Prodigal Son' (1966).
[14] He appeared in 'Martyrs of Love' (1966).
[15] Jiří Šlitr co-composed the music but did not act in the film. He was a major celebrity.
[16] Jaromír Vomáčka plays the 'Cheerful Man' and was a known songwriter.
#C RELATED QUERIES
#01 What was the political significance of the 'banned forever' status for A Report on the Party and Guests?
#02 Did Jan Klusák continue acting after the Czech New Wave ended?
#03 How were the non-professional actresses for Daisies discovered?
Regarding the 1966 film Daisies (Sedmikrásky), the most famous figure in the cast at the time of its release was Jan Klusák. While the film is celebrated for casting non-professionals in the lead roles—Jitka Cerhová (Marie I) and Ivana Karbanová (Marie II)—Klusák was already a prominent and "enfant terrible" figure in the Czechoslovak avant-garde music scene.
Jan Klusák in Daisies
In Daisies, Klusák plays the role of the "Younger Playboy" (sometimes credited as the "Young Gentleman" or the "Butterfly Collector"). He appears in the famous scene where Marie II visits a man in his apartment filled with butterfly cases. While he professes his undying love for her, she remains entirely indifferent, focus solely on eating his food and eventually stripping behind his display cases.
Fame at the Time of Release
By 1966, Klusák was not primarily an actor but a renowned avant-garde composer. He was a pioneer of "New Music" in Czechoslovakia, specializing in dodecaphony and serialism—styles that were often at odds with the state-mandated "socialist realism." His involvement in the film was part of the tight-knit collaboration of the Czechoslovak New Wave, where intellectuals, musicians, and artists often took small roles in each other's projects.
Other Notable Films
Though 1966 marked his acting debut, it was a prolific year for him as both an actor and a composer. His other notable films include:
* A Report on the Party and Guests (O slavnosti a hostech, 1966): Released the same year as Daisies, this film features Klusák in a much larger and more significant role as an "absurd official" or apparatchik. Like Daisies, this film was famously "banned forever" by the Communist authorities for its political subversion.
* Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (Valerie a týden divů, 1970): Klusák played the role of Gracián in this surrealist Gothic horror masterpiece directed by Jaromil Jireš.
* The Return of the Prodigal Son (Návrat ztraceného syna, 1966): He appeared in this psychological drama directed by Evald Schorm.
* Martyrs of Love (Mučedníci lásky, 1966): He had a role in this experimental triptych directed by Jan Němec.
Other Notable Contributors
While Klusák was the most famous acting presence, the film's "fame" also rested on its behind-the-scenes talent:
* Jiří Šlitr: He co-composed the music for Daisies. He was one of the biggest celebrities in Czechoslovakia at the time as half of the legendary Suchý & Šlitr duo from the Semafor Theatre.
* Jaromír Vomáčka: Another famous songwriter and pianist who appears in the film as the "Cheerful Man." Like Klusák, he was a well-known figure in the Prague cultural scene rather than a professional film actor.