Báthory vs Báthory! | Tomorrow Museum

This is an aside titled 'Báthory vs Báthory!' dated 2/1/10

Like the Bell Jar, the Cocteau Twins, the poetry of Anne Sexton, and Meshes of the Afternoon, at some point in the life of a young girl with dark interests, you come across the story of Elizabeth Báthory and are unquietly amazed by it. The Transylvanian countess tortured and murdered hundreds of young women. As legend would have it, she once dabbed the blood of a servant girl under her eyes and believed it reduced the signs of aging. But stone cold sadism was her motivation, above any demand for eternal youth. Sound like the perfect role for Tilda Swinton? Why yes, indeed she’s lined up for an adaptation. But wait, Julie Delpy wrote, directed, and stars in The Countess, also about Bathory. Much as I love Delpy, the Swinton movie has a script by Elfriede Jelinek, the bitterest writer I’ve ever read, which I mean as a very good thing.

Posted by Joanne on Feb. 1, 2010

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