Vessie

From seeing the trailer I expected a movie about vampires with a plot. I was only partly disappointed.

The style of this production was quite perfect and effortless however it would have gained much more substance if the film makers had concentrated more on the plot and subplot ( which had great potential) rather than the excessive gore. While I understand the need to show violence as intristic to the situation, it contributes very little as the near invincibility of the creatures and their intristic violence makes harder to sympathise and pity their injuries , especially as the narrative is rather stiff - cold as are all the vampires, and thus we are alienated by it.

Showing vampires as cold blooded 'cool' creatures as seems to be the current fashion is contradictory to all the underlying emotion - which was so often suggested but ultimately underdeveloped.

This is one movie where excessive styleization and a great concousness of genre stereotypes manages to ruin the potential held in a good story, script and actors.

This is a true masterpiece of a movie and it a loss to film lovers every where that it has never really been shown (and is not likely to be shown) outside Bulgaria. Set during the Spanish Civil War it tells the story of a British humanitarian (Fanny) who falls in love with a Jesuit priest (father Eredija). Through this relationship the film exposes the unnatural nature and thus the hypocrisy of extreme religousness. This effect is magnified by the historical sub plot of the movie (the war). What draw and repels the two characters to each other sets up the discussion of an individuals' relationship with the world around her/him and themselves. Fanny is a 'lost lamb' in a society of individuals with few morals her acquaintance with the Jesuit priest (Eredija) enpowers her to be true to herself and her morals. While Eredija is fearful of her love of him and her determination she gives him what religion has forbidden joy and humanity. The conflict that arises from that becomes more and more important as the viewer starts to care for the two main characters and sympathize with them not because they are essentially good people but because the strange beauty of their love for each other is unvailed This no feel good movie, but deep though provoking and surprisingly satisfying for all its harsh realities.