Director Albert Serra did miracles with Don Quixote and the Three Magi, and dares to juxtapose Casanova and Dracula in this thrilling film. Choosing a leisurely pace, so we can ponder and think while we are watching, the story unfolds and becomes more and more dark. Why does Casanova laughs so much, and why is he almost always in the shades or in the dark, where Dracula can walk around in the sunlight ? This film raises many questions and we are allowed to answer them ourselves, Albert Serra does not dictate anything.
There is no gore, even the bite marks and blood by the vampires are sheer poetry, but the film crawls under the skin. Music is spot on and never in the way of the story.
Lighting is breathtaking. Or better: the lack of lighting... Based on the experiments of our Peers Nestor Almendros and John Alcott, d.o.p. Jim Gimferrer dares to go all the way in low key lighting. It is truly magnificent.
What a film !!
