Les Lèvres rouges
Directed by:
Harry KümelCinematography:
Eddy van der EndenComposer:
François de RoubaixCast:
John Karlen, Danielle Ouimet, Delphine Seyrig, Andrea Rau, Paul Esser, Georges Jamin, Fons RademakersPlots(1)
Delphine Seyrig stars as Elizabeth Bathory, an ageless Countess with a beautiful young 'companion' (Andrea Rau) and a legendary legacy of perversion. But when the two women seduce a troubled newlywed couple (Danielle Ouimet and John Karlen), they unleash a frenzy of sudden violence and depraved desire. (Blue Underground)
Reviews (2)
Such aesthetics in the form of blonde feminine beauty, angelic white ladies’ costumes and melancholic poetics, almost reminiscent of Polanski’s Bitter Moon...diminished by so much empty and uninteresting dialogue, as well as underdeveloped characters, on whose intimate interaction the whole film was supposed to stand as a psychological analysis of the fascination with violence, helplessness and surrender to higher powers. Even the nudity is not used purposefully and satisfactorily enough. However, the face, hairstyle, wardrobe and calm, seductive voice of Delphine Seyrig as Countess Elizabeth Báthory cannot be forgotten.
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Even after thoroughly studying the Bathory theme in the film, I didn't understand the true nature of the cult of this particular film. Perhaps due to the suffocating atmosphere and the trendy lesbian touch... The Countess here is very tired and reminiscent of a Marlene Dietrich caricature.
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