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Author	Topic: Bathory
Mar17swgirl Registered: Dec '00	Date Posted: 7/17 3:09pm Subject: Bathory
	I went to see this film a couple of days back and really liked it. I thought I'd start a thread on it, maybe raise some awareness for it... Bathory on IMDB Early promo trailer Official trailer (in Czech) Undoubtedly the biggest Slovak production up to date (and by that I of course mean a co-production - with the Slovak cinematography in a desolate state there's no way a film of this scale could be made without foreign funding and support), with a multinational cast, and directed by the legendary Slovak director Juraj Jakubisko - often nicknamed the Fellini of the East. The film tells the life story of the Countess Elisabeth Bathory, known as the greatest mass murderess of all times, but takes a very different view than how Bathory has been presented over the centuries. The film portrays Erzsebet as a strong-willed, intelligent and powerful woman, who, while not entirely a saint, fell victim to political intrigue because of her wealth. The film was shot in English (having an international cast), but so far has only been released in Central Europe. I read that negotiations for the US and UK releases are under way. Anna Friel stars as Erzsebet and gives a stunning and moving performance. Karel Roden, brilliant as ever (probably the only actor from the former Czechoslovakia, who's made it in the US), plays the palatin Thurzo, who is after Bathory's wealth and tries to have her condemned for mass murder and witchcraft. The costumes are beautiful and lavish, the music very powerful, although the editing seems a bit off at times (it's evident that Jakubisko had to cut a lot of scenes in order to get into reasonable film length, so many parts feel rushed or unfinished). Definitely a film worth of attention. -----signature----- opens door "Oh, I'm… oh…" "What is it, Lieutenant Sebastian?" "It's just the Rebels, sir. They're here." "My God, man! Do they want tea?" "No, I think they're after something more than that, sir. I don't know what it is, but they brought a flag."
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The_Smirking_Revenge Registered: Jul '08	Date Posted: 7/17 3:18pm Subject: RE: Bathory
	Awesome. Thanks for posting this. Otherwise I may never have know about it til years later. I've always been fascinated by Bathory and her blood bathing habits... -T_S_R -----signature----- "It's not about money...It's about sending a message." "We have just lost cabin pressure" OBAMA '08
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Mar17swgirl Registered: Dec '00	Date Posted: 7/17 3:27pm Subject: RE: Bathory
	The_Smirking_Revenge posted: Awesome. Thanks for posting this. Otherwise I may never have know about it til years later. I've always been fascinated by Bathory and her blood bathing habits... -T_S_R Yes, the blood bathing has been confirmed by the historians as a myth, not only because the first stories of it started long after her death, but also because blood coagulates too fast. In fact, the way the film portrays her seems far more believable, from the historical point of view, than the legends of hundreds of tortured victims (why would she kill her own property, especially during the time of war when there was already a shortage of people?). -----signature----- opens door "Oh, I'm… oh…" "What is it, Lieutenant Sebastian?" "It's just the Rebels, sir. They're here." "My God, man! Do they want tea?" "No, I think they're after something more than that, sir. I don't know what it is, but they brought a flag."
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Mar17swgirl Registered: Dec '00	Date Posted: 7/28 6:20pm Subject: RE: Bathory
	There's a lot of information on the film's official website. -----signature----- opens door "Oh, I'm… oh…" "What is it, Lieutenant Sebastian?" "It's just the Rebels, sir. They're here." "My God, man! Do they want tea?" "No, I think they're after something more than that, sir. I don't know what it is, but they brought a flag."
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Drac39 Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 7/28 10:45pm Subject: RE: Bathory
	A lot of the story was sensationalized but I think the urban legends could make for a very effective horror film if done right. -----signature----- Go Cubs!
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Mar17swgirl Registered: Dec '00	Date Posted: 7/29 12:48am Subject: RE: Bathory
	Drac39 posted: A lot of the story was sensationalized but I think the urban legends could make for a very effective horror film if done right. Too unbelievable, though, especially the bathing in blood, which is an obvious nonsense. This film actually works, because there ARE weird things happening in the castle of Cachtice. There is suspense, drama, political intrigue, folk medicine bordering on magic, battles, blood and sex. The film has it all. And what's more, it's actually historically very plausible (well, except for the "James Bond"-esque inventions of two monks sent to spy on Erzsebet by the Church and who are obvious parody of The Name Of The Rose. They were obviously supposed to provide comic relief, but didn't fit, really). The pacing might seem a bit slow - it's definitely a Hollywood film that follows the usual formula, and it's actually a series of images and portraits and scenes only loosely bound together by a plot. Nevertheless, the drama is always present. -----signature----- opens door "Oh, I'm… oh…" "What is it, Lieutenant Sebastian?" "It's just the Rebels, sir. They're here." "My God, man! Do they want tea?" "No, I think they're after something more than that, sir. I don't know what it is, but they brought a flag."
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