Inspired by Sheridan Le Fanu’s classic Gothic vampire novella, Carmilla is a beautifully made film from director Emily Harris. Sheltered 15-year-old Lara (Hannah Rae) lives with her father and strict governess Miss Fontaine (Jessica Raine). She loves wandering in the lush grounds of the family estate and is fascinated by insects and decay. Lara is left handed and Miss Fontaine thinks this is a sign of the devil and binds Lara's left hand behind her back.
One day a carriage crash brings enigmatic young Carmilla (Devrim Lingnau) to recuperate at their house, she provides a welcome new companion for Lara.The pair begin a passionate friendship, but Lara becomes haunted by disturbing dreams that often feature Carmilla. Miss Fontaine remains distrustful of Carmilla and tries to warn Lara not to be overwhelmed by her feelings for her new friend.
This is a wonderfully atmospheric film shifting from the beautiful English countryside to the candle lit shadowy interiors of the large house. The mood shifts too from gentle romance to violent dreams.
Carmilla is nominated for the 2019 Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film.
Carmilla was given its world premiere as part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2019 on Friday 28 June and is screening again at 2030 Saturday 29 June at Vue Omni Centre (sold out) It will also screen at 2000 Sunday 30 June at Filmhouse as part of the Best of the Fest. .You can buy tickets here.
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You can read my earlier reviews from Edinburgh International Film Festival 2019, by following the links below:
Boyz in the Wood a group of teenage boys get lost in the Scottish Highlands.
2040 - can technology offer solutions to our current climate and ecological crises?
Bait - Cornish fishermen try to adapt to a changing world
How to Fake a War (on my Shapeshifting Green blog) what happens when a rock star decides to meddle in international affairs?
Farm Animals on Film - featuring The Biggest Little Farm - an inspiring story of the creation of a sustainable biodiverse farm in California, plus Vulture, an experimental film about farm animals.
Virgin and Extra: Land of the Olive Oil.
Chef Diaries Scotland: Spanish Chefs the Roca brothers take the viewer on a culinary road trip round Scotland
Up the Mountain - a year in an artists' studio in the Chinese mountains.
The Amber Light - a cinematic ode to Scotland's national drink
Aren't You Happy (on my Shapeshifting Green blog) - a writer searches for the meaning of life while not actually writibg anything
The Deer - a Basque language film following two poachers in a national park on the outskirts of San Sebastien.
Hurt by Paradise - a poet keeps searching for a publisher and an actor keeps trying to get a role
Photograph (on my Shapeshifting Green blog) - a street photographer in Mumbai invents a fiancee for himself....
Endzeit - an ecofeminist road movie with zombies.
Vai and Venezia - 2 films from sinking worlds.
Hamada - (on my Shapeshiting Green blog) life for young refugees of the Sahwari people in the Sahara.
Volcano - a photpgrapher gets lost in Ukraine
Black Forest - a dysfunctional family holiday in the German forest
Two SF Films at the festival (on my Shapeshifting Green blog).
Disclaimer: I have a press pass for the film festival and attended a free press screening of these films.
This is what we call an informative post! I have seen Carmilla once and I must say it’s one of the most interesting things I have watched so far. However, I am excited to know the list of movies, which will be screened in Thessaloniki International Film Festival this year. I am planning to head to Greece to attend the festival.
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