THE STORY OF MY DEATH

"Truly incomparable … by turns invigorating and baffling, puerile and contemplative, gleefully provocative and sheerly beautiful." – Senses of Cinema

Following his audacious treatments of Don Quixote (Honor de Cavalleria, MIFF 2007) and the three wise men (Birdsong, MIFF 2008), the iconoclastic Albert Serra turns his hand to the legends of Casanova and Dracula, through them presenting an ostentatious re-imagination of the 18th-century transition from rationalism to romanticism.

Beginning with an aged Casanova (played by Catalan art curator Vincenç Altaió) in his obscenely decadent Swiss chateau, idly discussing topics of high-society frivolity and Enlightenment rationalism with his manservant, we follow them as they journey to the heart of darkness of the Carpathian ranges, where they eventually meet the violent but romantic figure of Dracula.

Locarno Film Festival Golden Leopard winner, The Story of My Death builds on the tragicomic Byronism and obtuse spiritual enquiry that Serra is known for. Vivaciously minimalist but visually breathtaking, it's a rarefied cinematic luxury.

"Story of My Death is a truly esoteric and unique work, something contemporary, yet totally free of constraints of time and space. The trappings might be historical and mythical, but [Serra's] playground is cinematic language." – Cinema Scope

Albert Serra is a festival guest.