Review of The Countess (2009) by Codie E — 19 Jun 2010
The Countess is an impressive authentic and stirring movie. Julie Delpy is telling us the unsettling story of Erzsébet Báthory - an aristocatic and educated, hungarian woman who was born in an old hungarian dynasty and got married (15 years old) to the (11 years older) mighty knight Franz Nádasdy. In the constant absence of her husband, Erzsébet administrated the assets and she did it with great success.
She became, especially after the dead of Franz, the most powerful woman in her time.
Of course there is another story circulating about Countess Báthory - the story of blood, cruelity and jealousy. It is told that Erzsébet Báthory killed over hundred virgins to bath in their blood in the hope to stay eternally young.
The movie tries to light all aspects of the Countess' life: her crowing up in a cruel world, her fear of aging, her lovelife and her mastery, and it raises one question:
Is it possible that the damnation of Erzsébet Báthory as The Blood Countess was part of a defamation process to get rid of her, her influence, her power and her demands?
Julie Delpy wrote the script, she directed the movie, composed the music and played the character of The Countess herself - the achievement is excellent. She played Erzsébet with grace in every age and appeared never implausible. William Hurt and the astonishing young German actor Daniel Brühl completing this worth seeing movie.
Erzsébet Báthory died (54 years old) after three years of living immured in a small room of her castle.
This review of The Countess (2009) was written by Codie E on 19 Jun 2010.
The Countess has generally received mixed reviews.
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