Bathory: Countess of Blood (2008)
"Bathory" (original title)

Bathory is based on the legends surrounding the life and deeds of Countess Elizabeth Bathory known as the greatest murderess in the history of mankind. Contrary to popular belief, Elizabeth Bathory was a modern Renaissance woman who ultimately fell victim to mens aspirations for power and wealth.

Director:

Juraj Jakubisko

Writers:

John Paul Chapple (dialogue), Lubomír Feldek,

Stars:

Anna Friel, Karel Roden, Vincent Regan

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anna Friel	...	Erzsébet Báthory
Karel Roden	...	Juraj Thurzo
Vincent Regan	...	Ferenc Nadasdy
Hans Matheson	...	Merisi Caravaggio
Deana Horváthová	...	Darvulia (as Deana Jakubisková-Horváthová)
Franco Nero	...	King Mathias II
Antony Byrne	...	Pastor Ponicky
Bolek Polívka	...	Monk Peter
Jirí Mádl	...	Neophyte Cyril
Monika Hilmerová	...	Countess Czobor
Lucie Vondrácková	...	Lucia
Jaromír Nosek	...	Miklós Zrínyi (as Míra Nosek)
Marek Majeský	...	Gábor Báthory
Andrew Tiernan	...	Zavodsky
Marek Vasut	...	Bethlen

Storyline

Bathory is based on the legends surrounding the life and deeds of Countess Elizabeth Bathory known as the greatest murderess in the history of mankind. Contrary to popular belief, Elizabeth Bathory was a modern Renaissance woman who ultimately fell victim to mens aspirations for power and wealth.

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Plot Keywords:

bathory | countess | legend | blood | hallucination | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Fantasy | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and torture, sexuality and some graphic nudity

Details

Country:

Slovakia UK Hungary

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 July 2008 (Slovakia)

Also Known As:

Bathory: Countess of Blood

Filming Locations:

Austria

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eurofilm Stúdió, Film and Music Entertainment (F&ME), Jakubisko Film Slovakia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

141 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Singer Katka Knechtová wrote the title song with lyrics in Old Slavic (Old Church Slavonic language). It is an authentic psalm with only minor modifications.

User Reviews

Messy Screenplay, Fine Art Direction

"Bathory" is a long film divided in three Parts (Ferenc, Darvulia and Thurzo) based on the story and legend of an Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory that lived in the Upper Hungary Sixteenth Century in the period of the Turkish invasion and got the fame of bathing in blood of virgin maids to keep her beauty.

The art direction and the music score are classy and wonderful and the lead actress is very beautiful despite the weird wig she wears. Unfortunately after 141 minutes running time I am not sure whether she was an innocent victim of a conspiracy, bathing on herbs to remain beautiful; or whether she was a criminal logged in the Guinness Book as the remark in the very end since the messy and never clear screenplay shows her as an ambiguous character. In some moments she seems to be sadistic and in other moments she seems to be very pure. The subplots with the Italian painter and the two spy-monks are quite unnecessary and ridiculous.

In the end, director Juraj Jakubisko wastes a great budget and a story with a good potential with a confused tale of greed and treason. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Condessa de Sangue" ("Countess of Blood")