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Bathory
Feb 28, 2007 19:26:15 GMT 1
Post by davec on Feb 28, 2007 19:26:15 GMT 1
The IMDb entry for Bathory has recently been updated after a long period of stagnation. It seems the movie's basically complete with just voice and sound audio mixing and synchronisation to do - though that will take some time as the film was made in English but needs to be dubbed into Czech and Slovak languages. There is a 2.5 minute video here www.ceskenoviny.cz/video/detail.php?id=55230with brief clips from the film, including a short but tantalising glimpse of the star, Anna Frielova, bathing nude in a bath-tub of virgins' blood. The narrative and interview are incomprehensible to me, but it's wakened my interest in this film, which should be something to look forward to later this year. Let's hope the inevitable DVD release has lots of good extras to keep us happy. There's another link here to the official site www.thebathorymovie.combut it has no content - yet, except a title picture which would look good as an addition to this website, Dave! (Very impressive bosom!!) ;D |
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Post by Dave on Mar 1, 2007 1:20:45 GMT 1
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Post by helia on Mar 22, 2007 0:42:37 GMT 1
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Post by Dave on May 7, 2007 16:01:24 GMT 1
It appears there was a preview test screening of Bathory in London 3 April 2007 at The Courthouse Hotel Kempinski which is at 19-21 Great Marlborough Street ... Very few tickets were available and from comments I've seen didnt go down too well.. but thats just from 2 people who attended... although they did quote "it's little more than a way of relieving Anna Friel of her clothes " - which cant be too bad !! ;D The test preview started at 6.30pm and they stated" The film will finish at about 9.00pm after which we will ask you to fill in a questionnaire. We will also ask about 30 people to stay behind for another 30 mins or so to participate in a focus group. Drinks and refreshments will be served." ..... so sounds like the usual process at a test screening....  ...and would mean the film is a good 2hrs+ !! |
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Post by Dave on May 7, 2007 16:34:20 GMT 1
Also found this from a Czech news website from 3 March 2007
It's being billed as the most expensive film ever made in Central Europe, so reports that a working copy was stolen from an editing room caused something of a stir. The working version of Juraj Jakubisko's new film Bathory - about the legendary 16th century "blood countess" Elizabeth Bathory - has now been recovered, and the case will now go to court.
With a budget of around 10 million euros, the Czech/Slovak/Hungarian/UK co-production "Bathory" is being described as the most expensive film ever made in Central and Eastern Europe. It tells the story of the Hungarian countess Elizabeth Bathory, who was alleged to have sadistically murdered dozens if not hundreds of young women at a castle in what is now Slovakia. The story is well known among Hungarians, Slovaks and Czechs, and several dozen books and films have been made about the so-called "Blood Countess".
Juraj Jakubisko, Slovakia's best known film director, is just putting the finishing touches to a new two-hour English-language version of the famous story, in which he seeks to portray Elizabeth Bathory in a more sympathetic light. The lead role is played by British actress Anna Friel, and includes a number of well-known Czech actors.
The film was in post-production at Prague's Barrandov studios, when Jakubisko's wife Deana, who acts as producer on his films, received a call from someone claiming to be a middleman for someone who had stolen the working copy of the film. The person was threatening to circulate the film illegally unless he received half a million crowns.
Deana Jakubiskova called the police. Together she and the corruption and financial crime squad set up a meeting with the so-called middleman, who arrived as planned to pick up for the cash. He was arrested, as was the second man. The working copy was safely returned, but as Deana Jakubiskova explained to me, it turned out to be an inside job:
"This is the biggest disappointment and pain of this, that these two guys, mainly the one who had the DVD, were from another production that was in post-production at the same studio we were. He stole it from our editing room. When we arrived at the editing room three months ago, they were still there. So he had an open door, he could come anytime. You know, no-one would ask him why he was there. He was a production manager in post-production on another film. That was how he managed to get hold of it."
The case will now go to court. The working copy was clearly marked and protected and would have been useless to any potential counterfeiter. However Deana Jakubiskova says the case is a worrying development, and warns other film companies to exercise extreme caution. Bathory will premiere in Slovakia and the Czech Republic this autumn.
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Post by amanda on May 10, 2007 2:42:31 GMT 1
Usually IMDB posts international release dates for films. I found the link: IMDB Release DatesNo dates for the US or UK yet  |
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Bathory
May 12, 2007 13:20:54 GMT 1
Post by Dave on May 12, 2007 13:20:54 GMT 1
Usually IMDB posts international release dates for films. I found the link: IMDB Release DatesNo dates for the US or UK yet Had heard about these dates - heard UK premiere may be as late as January 2008 !!  |
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Bathory
May 20, 2007 14:47:21 GMT 1
Post by davec on May 20, 2007 14:47:21 GMT 1
The official website for the film has been updated with a new url: www.ceskatelevize.cz/specialy/bathory/More content at last, including a selection of stills. No release dates apart from Slovak and Czech Republics yet. Mind you, flights are cheap and an autumn trip to Bratislava or Prague would be rather nice!  |
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Bathory
May 20, 2007 19:29:52 GMT 1
Post by Dave on May 20, 2007 19:29:52 GMT 1
Some cool stills there !! ;D ;D
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Post by joe17 on May 24, 2007 9:47:27 GMT 1
Re: No UK/US release dates. Think we have all seen these warning signs before. The photos look good, but this film is beginning to get that all too familiar Anna-film smell. 'British Actress Sinks Czech and Slovak Film Industry'. Has anyone checked out the Bathory director's track record?
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Bathory
May 24, 2007 18:40:47 GMT 1
Post by Dave on May 24, 2007 18:40:47 GMT 1
Re: No UK/US release dates. Think we have all seen these warning signs before. The photos look good, but this film is beginning to get that all too familiar Anna-film smell. 'British Actress Sinks Czech and Slovak Film Industry'. Has anyone checked out the Bathory director's track record? Interesting perspective seeing that its a Czech/Slovak film which hasnt been released yet. It just seems a long time coming cos we heard about it so long ago. The post production has only just finished. Just because there are no UK/US dates doesnt condemn a film to oblivion....  Jakubisko is a very experienced Czech film maker/director/writer/cinematographer - with films going back to 60's. His IMDB profile lists 8 Award wins plus another 4 nominations - not Oscars but I dont always believe they show the best film ....(Pan's Labyrinth anyone  ) |
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Bathory
May 25, 2007 20:15:16 GMT 1
Post by davec on May 25, 2007 20:15:16 GMT 1
Mmmm I wish I shared your optimism  I agree it's early to panic but I just don't see how a film like this will get a distributor in UK, let alone USA. It doesn't really matter that the costumes look great, which they do, or the design is exceptional, which it may be, or even that Anna's in it, which she is, or that she looks great and gets her kit off, which she does  The fact is that Anna's not 'A' list in the film world and her name is not enough to get a wide theatrical release in UK, we've seen this with so many of her films  No-one in UK has ever heard of this director or the obscure film festivals where he got his 8 awards and 4 nominations or of any of the other cast members except maybe Django, if you're into that genre. No - my bet is that we'll have to go to Prague or Bratislava to see this epic in a cinema or surf along to the Eastern European Amazon sites when the DVD is released, probably early in 2008 I hope I'm wrong and the film makes an international star of Anna, bit I'll bet a bath full of virgin's blood this film never shows at my local multiplex  |
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Bathory
May 25, 2007 22:02:10 GMT 1
Post by Dave on May 25, 2007 22:02:10 GMT 1
It depends what you want an "Anna film" to do - be rubbish and make lots of money, or be a decent film and earn a modest amount - although I suppose there is that "ideal", be a fantstaic movie AND make lots of money !! ;D I agree Anna has not gained the status of A-List draw to carry a major Hollywood blockbuster, but all it takes is 1 role.... you never know. I prefer to remain optimistic |
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Bathory
May 26, 2007 10:24:24 GMT 1
Post by joe17 on May 26, 2007 10:24:24 GMT 1
This film cost a whole lot of money. You better believe the backers will be going all out to get as wide a distribution as they can. That said, clearly casting didn't come into their plans for world domination. Nobody, but nobody, would cast Anna as the lead in any film they wanted to make money.
Love your optimism Dave, 'Anna has not gained the status of A-list draw'. Think I would substitute 'never will have' for 'has not gained'.
Anyway, it is Hollywood law that female stars don't 'open' movies.
Think we are going to have to mark this film down as yet another victim of the Friel-anti-Midas-touch.
Guess it is all just discussion fodder for me anyway, I haven't seen any of Anna's last three or four films. Why would 'Bathory' be any different?
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Bathory
May 26, 2007 11:43:00 GMT 1
Post by Dave on May 26, 2007 11:43:00 GMT 1
Think we are going to have to mark this film down as yet another victim of the Friel-anti-Midas-touch. Love your pessimism Joe |
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