Director: Guy Maddin (The Saddest Music In The World 2003; The Heart Of The World 2000; Archangel 1990; Tales From The Gimli Hospital 1988)
Producer: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation / Vonnie Von Helmolt Film
Score: Gustav Mahler (non-original music)
Writer: Mark Godden (Ballet "Dracula", based on Bram Stoker's novel)
Director of photography: Paul Suderman
Cast:
Summary:
Guy Maddin's unique collaboration with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet is a mesmerising mix of breathtaking choreography, avant-garde film-making techniques and deliciously dark humour. Directed by Guy Maddin to Gustav Mahler's music and Mark Godden's choreography, the ballet covers the old story of the vampire Count Dracula (Zhang Wei-Qiang) and his seductions of Lucy Westernra (Tara Birtwhistle) and Mina Murray (CindyMarie Small) until his ultimate destruction at the hands of Dr. Van Helsing (David Moroni).
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Our Ranking
short review:
This is a beautiful and very unique version of the story we all know - based on a ballet, and shot like a silent movie (though it has a classical score, but no spoken dialogue, only titles), reminiscent of Murnau's Nosferatu or Dreyer's Vampyr. With its dreamlike imagery and the dance and filmic elements working in perfect tandem, this film is a thrilling experience you won't come on too often (maybe except for The Vampyr: A Soap Opera). A great cinematic achievement, like a revival of a lost art of film making!