Miscellaneous - Transylvania
by Anthony Strutt
published: 16 / 6 / 2007
intro
Despite its title and starring one-time horror film actress Asia Argento, 'Transylvania' has nothing to do with vampires and is an edgy road movie with a stunning gypsy folk soundtrack. Anthony Strutt finds much to be impressed about
'Transylvania' is a new film due out in early August from director, Tony Gatlif, and which stars Asia Argento. Running to 105 minutes, some of it is in English, but there are other places in which it is subtitled. Despite its title and even being set in the Big D's homeland, 'Transylvania' is not a horror film and there is no trace of a Castle Dracula. It, however, is not an easy ride at all. It has an edgy feel to it and there are scenes that reminded me of the 1968 Hammer film 'The Devil Rides Out' and 1973's 'The Wicker Man'. If this was a band it would be a new release by the Editors or Interpol as it would appeal to fans of 'Barren Wastelands' and 'Sorrowful Visions'. The film opens with three young women searching an isolated village in search of a man, the boyfriend of one of them, Zingarina, whom is expecting his baby. Zingarina is played by Asia Argento, who is the daughter of Dario Argento , the Italian horror film director and actress Daria Nicolodi, whom Dario co-wrote the classic 'Suspiria' with in 1977 when Asia was 2 years old. Zingarina's lover, a struggling musician. has been run out of town due to a lack of work. No one in the film has money, and a pain-filled lifestyle of struggling to live on whatever you can manage to get for yourself is expressed throughout the film. Much is made of this struggle but there is love everywhere in the form of the gypsy folk music that holds 'Transylvania' together, and all the way through the film it lifts the spirits high. Asia's character finds her lover only to be rejected and then she hits rock bottom, leaving her friends noteless and hanging out with a poor street child until she meets up with Tchango, a wheeler dealer with a kind heart. This is a love story but a bitter one. Even a love making scene looks more like a rape until a bear gets in the way and injects some humour into a well paced scene. Tchango is not a likeable character but he stands by Zingarina and a true human bonding takes place. He has his hands full as Zingarina is one messed up chick, whom has to deal with her own inner demons or madness as a trip to an exorcist shows. This is not a main stream film but definitely a brave movie and one which will appeal to both lovers of art house films and the hardcore Asia Argento crowd. Just don't bring a date.
Picture Gallery:-
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPPrisoners - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Allan Clarke - Interview
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Jimmy Nail - Interview
Jonny Fluffypunk - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Bluebells - Interview with Ken McCluskey
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart