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Història de la Meva Mort
Story of My Death
Spain / France 2013
produced by Thierry Lounas, Albert Serra, Montse Triola for Andergraun Films, Capricci Films, Televisió de Catalunya (TV3)
directed by Albert Serra
starring Vincenc Altaió, Clara Visa, Noelia Rodenas, Montse Triola, Eliseu Huertas, Lluís Serrat, Lluís Carbó, Floarga Dootz, Mike Landscape, Xavier Pau, Clàudia Robert
written by Albert Serra, music by Thierry Lounas, Enric Juncà, Joe Robinson, Marc Verdaguer
Casanova, Dracula
review by Mike Haberfelner
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The 18th century: An aging Casanova wanders the countryside with his
entourage, constantly talking as if he was to dictate his memoirs, mixing
anecdotes from his life as the greatest lover with philosophical
observations and the like. Eventually, they arrive in the Carpathian
mountains and find abode at an alchemist's. The alchemist has three lovely
daughters, all of whom Casanova tries to seduce - and despite his age, he
has still got it. The alchemist also has a sinister neighbour across the
river, Dracula, and eventually Dracula figures he could need the three
girls in his collection ... What might sound like a trashy
comedy in writing is actually a very sombre, rather lyrical and
deliberately slow-moving film, made up of many long and static shots,
beautiful pictures but very little action on screen - and in part, that's
fascinating even ... yet for the most part, Historia de la Meva Mort
is a bit on the annoying side since at 2 1/2 hours it seems to just drag
on and on forever without any climax or narrative structure even, and
despite all the dialogue, too much of this movie is left between the
lines, so it's a bit too open for intrepretation to justify its running
time. Now sure, some scenes do have comic potential or show great
atmospheric filmmaking, but in all, the movie's way too tedious for its
own good and seems to waste a good opportunity at great comedy or profound
commentary or both.
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