Scarlet Diva (2000)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Asia Argento

Writer:

Asia Argento (writer)

Release Date:

26 May 2000 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A young Italian actress embarks on a self-destructive spree of sex, drugs and other excess while doing some soul searching to find the path for redemption.

Plot Keywords:

Actress | Sex | Abusive Relationship | Rock Star | Paris

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Asia Argento	...	Anna Battista
Jean Shepard	...	Kirk Vaines
Herbert Fritsch	...	Aaron Ulrich
Gianluca Arcopinto	...	Dr. Pascuccia
Joe Coleman	...	Mr. Paar
Francesca d'Aloja	...	Margherita
Vera Gemma	...	Veronica Lanza
Justinian Kfoury	...	J-Bird
Daria Nicolodi	...	Anna's Mother
Schooly-D	...	Hash-Man (as Schoolly D.)
Selen	...	Quelou
Alessandro Villari	...	Hamid
Leo Gullotta	...	Dr. Vessi
Paolo Bonacelli	...	Swiss Journalist
Vanessa Crane	...	Luke Ford

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, language and drug content.

Runtime:

91 min | Argentina:97 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | USA:90 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

English | Italian | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:16 | Australia:R (2007) | Argentina:16 | France:-12 | Italy:VM14 | USA:Unrated | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Opera Film Produzione

Quotes:

Anna Battista: I'm sorry. It's the first time I've ever made love.
Kirk: Don't tell me you're a virgin.
Anna Battista: No. I'm a whore.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ti piace Hitchcock? (2005) (TV)

Asia battles her demons in this amateurish effort. Cathartic for her maybe, but pretty boring for us.

Cult actress Asia Argento, daughter of Italian horror legend Dario Argento and his former leading lady Daria Nicolodi, almost uses 'Scarlet Diva' as therapy. She is the first to admit that she has a lot of demons to battle, and this semi-autobiographical digital video movie about a successful Italian actress (and "the loneliest girl in the world") trying to find happiness, or at least some relief, through sex, drugs and some disastrous relationships, was obviously cathartic for her to make. Unfortunately it is a very uneven and at times unbelievable film and is almost impossible to get involved with. Anna/Asia's pain and despair isn't hidden but the script is so shallow and the acting so unconvincing that it becomes little more than a freak show. Personally I found Argento's commentary on the DVD much more interesting than the movie itself. In it she spells out just how much of the movie is based on real situations in her life, and explains what has been changed or slightly fictionalized. Hearing her talk honestly about how much this movie means to her, and how for example, getting her own mother (Nicolodi) to play her fictional mother altered their relationship for the better, was more effective than watching the actual movie. It also makes you feel bad for slamming this, but what can you do? It just isn't very good. Argento also talks about how she felt betrayed by her friend Vincent Gallo ('Buffalo 66'), who agreed to play the rock star Kirk Vaines character, but then blew it by asking for too much money. If you look closely you will see Asia stand on a picture of his face in one scene. She also discusses how working with Abel Ferrara on the troubled 'New Rose Hotel' inspired her to direct, and how Ferrara and her father Dario Argento (who gets a production credit) were the only two people to encourage her with this project. I just hope that if she directs again the results are a lot more interesting than this amateurish effort. I say avoid this movie unless you are a complete Asia Argento nut. Otherwise if you must watch it, make sure you listen to the commentary and watch the interview segment, as you will get a lot more out of them than 'Scarlet Diva' itself.