Anazapta

I felt I was watching something from the 70s. It has strong adult themes and language and well-known actors, but I thought they all acted badly; it's as if everyone had been asked to do a poor job, editing, acting, directing, etc. Shame, for a film made in 2002, it all looks pretty dated.

Lena Headey is the perfect jewel for this mesmerizing film. She is surrounded by a great cast whose menacing and troubled characters make you shiver as if from the winter's cold. The film is bleak, brutal and thanks to Headey's seductive allure, utterly compelling. Both she and the film are more than worth the price of a ticket.

Being an avid admirer of director Alberto Sciamma´s first film "Killer Tongue" I did not hesitate to watch his new movie while it was shown at the "Fantasy-Filmfest" Germany. I cannot say, I´m disappointed. But i did not turn out the way I expected it. Compared to his first movie, an extravaganza beyond compare, "Anazapta" looks too arty to capture my benevolent attention. There have been some great movies on the middle ages, like "Flesh and Blood", "Jabberwocky" or "Hour of the Pig". In all these movies the middle ages are so dirty, amoral and violent as you always thaught thy would have been. "Anazapta" makes no exception, and that´s the biggest failure. It does not show anything you haven´t seen before. The movie looks very tv-like. There is no spark. Compared to the in some aspects similar "Hour of the Pig" it´s a major disappointment. Although it´s twisted, you lose interest in getting to the final twist. Don´t misunderstand me. It´s not a bad movie. I have seen much, much worse. But my expectations were higher.

"Anazapta" is one of those movies about the medieval times which does not have any characters boasting a bright, ultra-white-teeth Hollywood smile. The whole so to say "medievalness" is shown very naturally, i.e. people are dirty, rude, there's violence and brief nudity, etc. And this is great. This is the only thing that provides the movies with above the average rating IMHO. The story is twisted just perfectly for ending-guessers to figure out the grand finale some 20 to 15 minutes before time, but the very ending scene has left me wondering. Anyway, in my TV-program the film was described as a historical thriller and thriller it was indeed.

The movie takes its time and overall I think what it tries to do is recommendable. Putting a face to something that was a horrible event in history is not a bad idea. But until we get there, you may get bored or at least a bit annoyed. The acting is good and there is quite a few things you may like. Not the over the top cliches at points probably.

We have Jason Flemyng and Lena Headey, the latter probably having some training or at least getting accostumed to something she later revised (GoT). So for them it seems like it was fun. It doesn't quite translate to the screen. Some of the symbolism (sexual frustration, being in charge as a woman and so forth) really don't shine as much as they could. Still there have been worse movies out there