IMDb RATING
6.2/10
8.7K
YOUR RATING
A 17th century Hungarian countess embarks on a murderous undertaking, with the belief that bathing in the blood of virgins will preserve her beauty.A 17th century Hungarian countess embarks on a murderous undertaking, with the belief that bathing in the blood of virgins will preserve her beauty.A 17th century Hungarian countess embarks on a murderous undertaking, with the belief that bathing in the blood of virgins will preserve her beauty.
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination
Andy Gätjen
- Miklos
- (as Andy Gatjen)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJulie Delpy revealed in a 2014 interview with entertainment reporter Darby Maloney that the film was a huge success in France, so successful that she is practically guaranteed financial backing from French financiers for any project she wants to pursue in the future.
- GoofsAt about 1h15m, the fifth book on the shelf is the "Dictionnaire De Boyer". Abel Boyer did write a French-English dictionary, but he was born in 1664 and Countess Báthory died in 1614.
- Quotes
Gyorgy Thurzo: Love is a myth, to keep the minds of young peasants and virgins occupied with a dream.
- ConnectionsVersion of Lust of the Vampire (1957)
- SoundtracksCouranta VI
Solinger Streichquartett
Written by Isaak Pesch
From the album "Telemusik"
© & ® Peter Lamprecht
Courtesy of Solinger Streichquartett/Peter Lamprecht
Featured review
True Story? Not at all.
I haven't seen the film yet, I was thinking of seeing it this week, but given some of the things I've read in the reviews, I may not bother. The story recounted in the film is NOT a true story at all. Countess Elizabeth Bathory existed and she was indeed charged with a number of supposed murders, but the charges were never properly proved. In fact no evidence was properly presented - her 'trial' was a politically motivated set-up. She was an extremely rich and powerful woman living at a time when in most societies, but especially Eastern European ones, wealthy and powerful women were hugely resented by their male counterparts.
Once she was widowed Countess Bathory chose not to remarry as she did not want another man to take control of her lands. She wanted to rule her estates herself - and she was a very capable ruler. Unfortunately powerful men in Hungary (and the Austro-Hungarian Empire) were greedy for her lands. They could not dispossess her legally, so they hatched a plot to have her charged with terrible crimes. Her servants were tortured and forced to accuse her, however, no credible evidence was ever presented. It was enough however, for her lands to be confiscated.
As for punishment, she was NOT bricked up in a room and fed through a hole in the wall. That is fantasy. She was confined to a few rooms in one of her castles, a kind of house arrest. Sadly films like this perpetuate the myth and falsehoods about a woman who, although tough and sometimes hard on her servants, was never guilty of the horrendous crimes of which she has been accused. I am so sick and tired of seeing history re-written and fabricated that I probably won't go and see it now - and I would warn anyone who thinks they are going to see something 'historical' that it just isn't.
Once she was widowed Countess Bathory chose not to remarry as she did not want another man to take control of her lands. She wanted to rule her estates herself - and she was a very capable ruler. Unfortunately powerful men in Hungary (and the Austro-Hungarian Empire) were greedy for her lands. They could not dispossess her legally, so they hatched a plot to have her charged with terrible crimes. Her servants were tortured and forced to accuse her, however, no credible evidence was ever presented. It was enough however, for her lands to be confiscated.
As for punishment, she was NOT bricked up in a room and fed through a hole in the wall. That is fantasy. She was confined to a few rooms in one of her castles, a kind of house arrest. Sadly films like this perpetuate the myth and falsehoods about a woman who, although tough and sometimes hard on her servants, was never guilty of the horrendous crimes of which she has been accused. I am so sick and tired of seeing history re-written and fabricated that I probably won't go and see it now - and I would warn anyone who thinks they are going to see something 'historical' that it just isn't.
helpful•1931
- rchalloner
- May 5, 2010
- How long is The Countess?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Bathory
- Filming locations
- Burg Kriebstein, Kriebstein, Saxony, Germany(exteriors: Countess Bathory's castle)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- €5,700,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $784,522
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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