Scarlet Diva DVD

Scarlet Diva DVD

Reviewed by SuperNova

Art House/Drama - 2000
91 Minutes
English/Italian
Not Rated

Directed By: Asia Argento

Produced By: Claudio Argento and Dario Argento

Staring: Asia Argento, Jean Sheppard, Herbert Fritsch, and Gianluca Arcopinto

Scarlet Diva was conceived after Asia Argento began to write a novel regarding the first World War. Proving to be too large-scale for a first story she treaded elsewhere and almost out of a necessity she wrote a book based upon her life. It wasn’t till her father was able to read the first couple of pages that it was suggested and came to be a movie. Initially Asia (pronounced as “AH-zhe-ah”) overlooked the idea of adapting her story into a motion picture, but as soon as the formulation progressed so to did her fixation with turning this into a full length film.

Scarlet Diva opens with a shot of Anna Battista (Asia Argento) in an airport terminal and in many ways is a tribute to her father’s film Suspiria as the multi diverse hues beckon around lonely Anna. It’s a shot that consists of no dialogue, but extracts words from the viewer’s soul with divine imagery and skillful versatility. There’s no sense of fear, not even the slightest indication of abandonment. A colleague of past memoirs diverges unto illusive scenes of fabricated smiles as the credits commence, and so begins the story of “The Loneliest Girl in The World.” In this embellished autobiographical picture Ms. Argento portrays an actress who in many ways incorporates pragmatic tribulations from Asia’s own experience. The technicalities of her life’s history are presented before us in an intrepid and ambitious story that lacks the fundamentals of coherency and consistency. The film it self is constructed in a way where the viewer is able to witness varying stages of the mental and physical decomposition of Asia‘s character.

Similar to a timeline where dates are present to add certain connectivity to the occurrences, Anna’s life has a beginning, middle, and inevitably an end. Though the focus of the end isn’t merely on death itself by the way of a particular character but more so the death of a means of a way of living. Anna’s journey begins with her traveling to Rome as an upstart actress whose eccentric nature is evenly matched by her ability to perform in front of a camera. In Paris she stops by her friends house, which appears unoccupied at the time of her arrival only to discover her friend Veronica (Vera Gemma) hog tied and lying naked in bed. Abused and left to die by her boyfriend Hamid (Alessandro Villari), Anna frees Veronica who both set out to find her boyfriend and score some hash along the way. Later on that day Hamid returns to Veronica’s home where he entices Anna by smacking her across the face and then repeatedly does the same to Veronica. Oddly enough the engagement becomes too arousing and the two begin to have sex (real sex that is!).

During an outing at a nightclub, Anna is drawn to a musician who seems to be singing to her soul. After their performance ends, Anna goes back stage to meet the lead vocalist and discovers her first true love within Kirk (Jean Shepard). Later on after an evening of heated passion Kirk leaves Anna all alone in a motel room feeding off deceptive dreams and false promises. Her professional life and career also seem to be affected by this pining of Kirk as a meeting with a Hollywood Producer turns into a scandalous ordeal resulting in an argument with her agent. Things couldn’t become uncannier as Anna discovers she’s pregnant with Kirk’s child and with no way to contact him she contemplates her existence here on earth. Succumbing to hellish nightmares about the results of her pregnancy Anna is left chasing sleep and a lover that doesn’t seem to care.

Back in town for a show, Anna and Veronica decide to surprise Kirk, only to discover he is married and has children of his own. Devastated Anna flees the club and runs away from the reality of the situation only to trip on some inclined steps, falling forward onto her stomach. We part with Asia staring up at a figure under a lamppost that resembles Kirk, but could be distinguished as someone else. Perhaps it’s too symbolic for even myself to figure out, could it be Jesus Christ, a memory of how things were, or maybe an illusion? But illusions aren’t real and maybe it just goes to state that the love Asia and Kirk had wasn’t either.

Reviewers Thoughts:

If you were to stare at a painting, one might succumb to the colors on the canvas and the feelings they exemplify. More often than not we use words to convey how we feel, voices become deafening and brusque when angered, faces become insipid and dismal when sad. These feelings could be equivalent to colors, blue representing despondency and the isolation of being alone, red posing a sense of inner anguish and the circumstances of being affronted. I believe it was Vincent Van Gough who used his canvases to paint pictures of perfected psychological sentiments. Nothing could grasp more passion until generated on film and transitioned in a way to equal what had been taking place on screen. Those who are familiar with Dario Argento will surely understand the artistic helix his films seem to take upon and the parallel he created between the characters and the ambiance. Dario is a renowned director known by many as the Italian Hitchcock who wove a tapestry of embodied horror films while masterfully crafting scenes of poetic violence. Certainly no one could fill such shoes and those expecting Asia to embrace her father’s gift will soon find themselves revealing the improbability.

The film opens with an introduction from Ms. Argento who announces quite fondly that this film saved her life. With such a statement forever embedded in the back of your mind, one might begin to build further inaccessible expectations, but for myself I subdue such a thing. When you settle into the motion picture a few moments of sexual perversion should be enough to deviate you from thinking this film is a tour de force. Many believe its propensity of being too self obsessed shatters the film’s philosophical underpinning, but what viewers neglect to examine is the authenticity of what has come to be and what’s been embroidered. Some scenes have been arranged in such a manner that they can’t help but to be scrutinized. While it seems to be directly out of context the significance of these scenes play an important role in trying to understand what’s really going on in Asia’s life. I do agree that certain moments in this film prove to be too elaborate at times and often take away from the viewer’s perspective, but when dealing with a subject matter such as this there is no ordinary, it never existed due to the fact that not everyone can relate to everything.

It’s a film that borderlines the boundaries of exploitation without pushing the limits to be looked at as such. Scarlet Diva is a charted graph of events that took place in Asia’s life. Certainly not an historical escapade as say Christopher Columbus and the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, but the documents are at least all here and even the most rudimentary of people should be able to find something interesting they can take away from the film. This is indeed Asia’s Pandora box smashed open to feed a desire that’s been relentlessly eating away at her for some time. As a director her aptitude appears conspicuous and proves she’s more than just a mistress in distress. Is she too bold in her approach? Perhaps, but if the boldness was irrelevant to what was taking place on screen I could see an argument. Her ability regarding acting is sufficient enough to say the least. I could easily dismiss her credentials because after all Anna is indeed Asia and vice versa, but I’m a reviewer who looks beyond the foreshadowing of actors and must acknowledge Ms. Argento’s performance as a true distinctive gift. Jean Sheppard plays her love interest as the ever maniacal Kirk. In his first acting role, Jean does a good job of creating a delusional love affair that Anna seems bound by. He’s a jerk in the simplest terms who posses an unorthodox nature which specifically appeals to Anna. Sadly the rest of the cast is quite dispensable, with the exception of a few good performances like Asia’s real mother Daria Nicolodi who portrays Anna’s strict parent keen on punishment. Also Joe Coleman who plays Mr. Paar is so utterly repulsive he defines the word slime ball. If one person was missing from the cast it would have to be Dario or at least a father figure, as the film seems a bit mute without him and almost proposes that Asia never had a dad.

Audio:

Scarlet Diva is presented here in an English and Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 track. The dialogue converges between English and Italian throughout the film and even sometimes during the same scene. When the Italian language is present English subtitles appear and are bright and easy to understand. The dialogue as well is clear and those who have any doubts about Asia being able to speak English unmistakably should put all their worries to rest. The soundtrack for this film was done by a man named John Hughes and consists of mostly loud vibrant dance beats with the exception of various songs that seem to hold a melancholy feel. The 2.0 track is adequate enough to bring life into the film, but certainly doesn’t take advantage of fully expressing the varying ranges of sounds.

Video:

Scarlet Diva was shot on mini digital video format and the print on hand here is nothing short of pristine. Media Blasters offers us a gorgeous 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The colors are nicely saturated, the blacks being the most prominent. Skin tones and flesh pigments are bright and lively and generate a realistic feel. Usually when shooting on digital it becomes abundantly apparent the look of the film lacks what most refer to as the “Hollywood Flare.” Okay so I made it up and you are welcome to steal it, but truth be told Scarlet Diva doesn’t look like it was shot on digital video and this issue further enhances it’s resourcefulness.

Special Features:

Media Blasters Shriek Show release of Scarlet Diva is one of the best selling DVDs from this particular company and it’s no short on the part of their great presentation with this disc. Alongside the arrangement of the film in its entirety Media Blaster’s offers viewers a splendid Directors commentary track, a one on one interview with Asia Argento, an original theatrical trailer and a photo gallery. I’ll be taking a look at all of these supplements today with the earlier being the focus of my deepest attention. Before I jump ahead of myself I’d like to tell you that the main menu opens with some behind the scenes footage of Scarlet Diva’s premier matched evenly with a slick guitar tune which then settles into the main menu. From there we have the options to play the movie, view the chapter selection which consist of fifteen total chapters or browse the supplements which I will be doing.

Inscrutable is a word I like to accentuate when describing Asia. Her idiosyncratic appearance is enough to appeal as a modern day Cleopatra and she is indeed the essence of love and everything beautiful in this world. In this fifteen minute long interview Asia openly expresses her motivation for making this film and the enduring process that unfolded before her. It’s a comprehensively engaging and often exceptionally poignant discussion that begs for understanding and inquisitiveness. While not a direct focus on the film entirely, she touches upon more personal scenarios between her mother and father and the relationships they’ve built. Appropriately organized it’s hard not to sympathize with Asia, though she’s not looking for grief or pity she’ll always see the world as such.

The second special feature I will be taking a look at today is the audio commentary track. There’s a certain emptiness that fills the ears when Asia speaks about Scarlet Diva. Whether it’s because her memories of making the picture aren’t too fond or if it’s a part of her past better left forgotten one thing is for sure the passion she’s poured into this film is lucid enough for even myself to see. In this commentary Asia speaks candidly about the friends that screwed her over, her aspiring love with the real Kirk and even why her bush is so hairy. It’s great to listen to Asia talk even when she isn’t for sure of what to say. Unlike most commentaries this one seems to be held at a screening, as there are times when people in the background will make comments or ask questions regarding the film. The movie it self is muted the entire time during this track as so the main focus can be directly on the director. A great photo gallery, an original theatrical trailer and liner notes round out this wonderful presentation. We also get the usual Media Blaster flare throwing in three extra trailers, House on the edge of the Park, Visitor Q and Versus.

Interview With Asia Argento

Directors Commentary With Asia Argento

Original Theatrical Trailer

Liner Notes

Photo Gallery

Overall:

There is no real mystery to Scarlet Diva, it exists as merely just a template to the end of a stage in Asia’s life. It was a process that wasn’t always rewarding and sometimes caused heartaches and mistrust, but in the end Asia and her film became nothing short of inspiring. Winner of the Best New Director award at the Williamsburg Brooklyn Film Festival it just goes to show that hard work truly does pay off. Certainly not a film for everyone, but to those who find themselves acknowledging it will see Scarlet Diva in a whole other perspective. In closing I’ve reviewed a lot of films and presented them in a way that challenged what the viewer original seen with Scarlet Diva the connection wasn’t as strong and the result was a review that sounds too sophisticated for it’s self. It’s too wordy and I try too hard to make sense out of a film that really doesn’t make all that much sense to begin with. I urge you not to judge my review on your basis of watching the movie, as it’s better left just to come to your own conclusion. I do apologies to all those who look forward to a great review, but my friends I just couldn’t pull it out this time.

Film: ***½/*****
Audio: ***½/*****
Video: ****/*****
Extras: ***½/*****