#ariane labed

[talesfromthecrypts]

Ariane Labed as Sdenka in The Vourdalak

[ozu-teapot]

Le Vourdalak | Adrien Beau | 2023

[dare-g]

The Vourdalak (2023)

[editfandom]

THE VOURDALAK, 2023 | Ariane Labed as Sdenka

[fourorfivemovements]

Films Watched in 2024: 89. Le Vourdalak/The Vourdalak (2023) - Dir. Adrien Beau

[verypersonalscreencaps]

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2024

The complete list of films directed by women selected in Competition, Un Certain Regard, Midnight Screenings, Semaine de la Critique and Special Screenings

COMPETITION BIRD (dir. Andrea Arnold) ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT (dir. Payal Kapadia) THE SUBSTANCE (dir. Coralie Fargeat) DIAMANT BRUT (dir. Agathe Riedinger)

UN CERTAIN REGARD LE PROCÈS DU CHIEN (dir. Laetitia Dosch) SANTOSH (dir. Sandhya Suri) SEPTEMBER SAYS (dir. Ariane Labed) VINGT DIEUX ! (dir. Louise Courvoisier) NIKI (dir. Céline Sallette) MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS LES FEMMES AU BALCON (dir. Noémie Merlant) written with Céline Sciamma💗 SPECIAL SCREENINGS APPRENDRE (dir. Claire Simon) LA BELLE DE GAZA (dir. Yolande Zauberman)

SEMAINE DE LA CRITIQUE BLUE SUN PALACE (dir. Constance Tsang)

[filmap]

Attenberg Athina Rachel Tsangari. 2010

Building Ασπρα Σπίτια, Aspra Spitia 320 03, Paralia Distomou, Greece See in map

See in imdb

[skeletonfumes]

[moviemosaics]

The Vourdalak

directed by Adrien Beau, 2023

[sloshed-cinema]

Le Vourdalak (2023)

Who would win in a fight, elderly Boris Karloff or a puppet? Adrien Beau’s take on the Aleksey Tolstoy novella follows the same path as the central chapter in the Mario Bava anthology film Black Sabbath, recounting the tale of a French nobleman encountering a family preyed upon by the ghastly vourdalak, their own father returned from the grave to drink their blood. But this French adaptation makes an interesting creative choice: this undead iteration of the patriarch Gorcha isn’t a man but rather a puppet. The gaunt, emaciated figure of this elderly man features skeletal fingers and a face ravaged by time, milky eyes and exposed teeth fluctuating between rage and a sort of extreme exhaustion. This gives an even more frightening presence to the creature, its movements stilted and frail, yet threatening nonetheless. Gorcha’s family all react differently to the return of their not-father, from Jegor’s drunken denial to Anja’s grief-stricken apathy to Sdenka and Piotr’s fear and mistrust. The visiting Marquis d’Urfé is out of sorts here, confused by both the landscape and local customs. As with the likes of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, vampirism is presented as a clash between the cultural sensibilities of Western and Eastern Europe. But here, d’Urfé is abroad, a Frenchman visiting Serbia. Wars and ethnic clashes haunt the periphery, from battles between the locals and invading Turks, to the perhaps unwanted presence of the Frenchman in this area. Where Dracula is presented as an Other invading British polite society, here the vourdalak’s proclivity for the blood of loved ones speaks to annihilation from within. This is borne out of trauma and a blind adherence to patriarchal structure even when it’s completely apparent that said patriarch is making terrible decisions.

D’Urfé himself is almost comically inept at dealing with any of the problems he encounters during his trials and tribulations confronting the vourdalak Gorcha. Powdered and polite, he doesn’t know how to navigate his strange surroundings. Attempting to help the young child Vlad who is being lured by the vampiric creature, the Frenchman just ends up getting bitch-slapped by a puppet and knocked unconscious. He manages, by some strange stroke of luck, to kill the vourdalak (only after engaging in some fucking and sucking), but unlike the novella, he succumbs to his wounds. Despite all of the experiences of the court, he’s ill equipped to face such evils.

THE RULES

SIP

Someone says 'Gorcha'.

d'Urfé introduces himself to someone.

Someone makes the Sign of the Cross.

A type of family member is named (ie: father, mother, etc).

BIG DRINK

A dream sequence ends.

Chewing noises are heard.

[fuckyeahwomenfilmdirectors]

September Says (2024)

[jalwyn21]

Ariane plays the older version of Raffey Cassidy’s role as the niece in The Brutalist! It must be a small cameo role.

Oh, ok.. Thanks! That explains why she was there

[ozu-teapot]

Le Vourdalak | Adrien Beau | 2023

Ariane Labed

[fearsmagazine]

THE VOURDALAK - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Oscilloscope Laboratories

SYNOPSIS: In a remote countryside, the Marquis d'Urfé, a noble emissary of the King of France, is ambushed and forsaken. Seeking shelter, he stumbles upon an isolated manor with an eerie atmosphere. The family, hesitant to offer hospitality, displays peculiar behavior as they anxiously await the imminent return of their patriarch, Gorcha. However, what initially appears as mere oddity swiftly escalates into a full-blown nightmare when Gorcha returns, bearing a haunting transformation that raises questions about his true nature.

Based on “La Famille du Vourdalak" by Aleksei K. Tolstoy, THE VOURDALAK, predates Bram Stoker’s “Dracula" by over half a century.

REVIEW: In Mario Bava's 1963 film "Black Sabbath," starring screen legend Boris Karloff, the "I Wurdalak" segment draws inspiration from the same story that forms the premise of THE VOURDALAK. Surprisingly, the story originated in Russian and wasn't translated into French until approximately seven decades later. It's noteworthy to mention that the word "vourdalak," derived from Slavic and Balkan folklore, may have initially referred to werewolves before becoming associated with vampires.

Filmmaker Adrien Beau brings Tolstoy's story to life, incorporating many of its elements with some contemporary flair. While it diverges from the original prose, Beau compresses time and incorporates several of Tolstoy's themes, creating a rich tapestry of folklore, superstition, patriarchy, and elements of 1900 French polite society and Serbian culture. Reminiscent of Nathaniel Hawthorne's short stories, the tale follows a noble emissary who seeks help and is given an ominous warning as he is sent out into the forest and told not to stray off the road. Outside his comfort zone, the nobleman confronts his beliefs and becomes a victim of his own desire. Beau remains faithful to Tolstoy's tale until the climax, where he introduces contemporary vampire themes through the Marquis d'Urfé's challenge. The dialogue and interactions authentically feel period.

In this film, the production values may be simplistic, but the costumes, particularly the Marquis d'Urfé's hair and makeup, effectively establish the period of the story. The actors' movements and the structure of the dialogue further contribute to the period atmosphere. Despite being shot in color, the framing and editing techniques evoke the classic monster movies of the 1930s and 1940s.

Adrien Beau's puppet design stands out, reminiscent of Max Schreck with a touch of zombie. The combination of the performance and Beau's voicing of the character creates a chilling effect..

The cinematography is both beautiful and breathtaking, creating a distinct atmosphere, especially during the daylight sequence and even more effective at night.

Martin Le Nouvel and Maïa Xifaras' score blends period-sounding movements with an effective genre score, enhancing the atmosphere, emotions, and performances of the characters.

The captivating ensemble cast elevates this film to a must-watch. Kacey Mottet Klein portrays the Marquis, a character resembling a 19th-century Ash. He has some panache, but his bumbling nature and occasional off-putting actions result in him being a less likable character. Ultimately, he brings a sense of integrity to the role that makes it memorable. Ariane Labed's performance as Sdenka exudes charm and aloofness, as she adds an exotic allure to the character. It is understandable why the Marquis falls under her spell. Grégoire Colin and Claire Duburcq effectively portray a couple governed by societal expectations and rules of civility. Their interactions with the Gorcha highlight their acting brilliance. Despite realizing that they are making poor choices, they are unable to deviate due to the patriarch's influence and the necessity to respect his wishes. The exceptional performances of the cast alone make this film worthy of multiple viewings.

Adrien Beau’sTHE VOURDALAK, his feature film debut, has a raw cinematic feel that seems inspired by the essence of the classic black-&-white monster movies and the sensuality of the Warhol Dracula and Frankenstein films, without all the sex and gore of those films. The cinematic experience is a blend of a talented filmmaker and an excellent cast that make THE VOURDALAK a delightfully bizarre, gripping and shockingly refreshing film. THE VOURDALAK has all the fright stuff to render it an instant cult classic.

CAST: Kacey Mottet Klein, Ariane Labed, Gregoire Colin, Vassili Schneider, Claire Duburcq & Adrien Beau. CREW: Director/Screenplay/Creator of the Vourdalak Puppet - Adrien Beau; Screenplay - Hadrien Bouvier; Producers - Judith Lou Lévy, Lola Pacchioni & Marco Pacchioni; Cinematography - David Chizallet; Score - Martin Le Nouvel & Maïa Xifaras; Editor - Alan Jobart; Set Designer - Thibault Pinto; Costume Designer - Anne Blanchard; Prosthetic Makeup Artist - Franck Limon-Duparcmeur; Visual Effects Artist - Fredrik Monteil. OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/twv0lLTfze4?si=136SpjpWiCAwCTKq RELEASE DATE: In theaters June 28th, 2024

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[dare-g]

Attenberg (2010)

[witchparade]

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