Stompbox: THE BLOODY LADY (1980) – New Restoration of Vampiric Slovak Animation with live score by Brendan Swanson!

Runtime: 85 mins | Release Year: 1981 | Rating: | Genre(s): Animation, History, Horror
Production Country: Czechoslovakia | Original Language: Slovak

Showtimes
‣ Tuesday October 29th @ 09:30 PM

CANADIAN PREMIERE! 

 

New Restoration of Vampiric Slovak Animation with live score by Brendan Swanson!

 

This underseen gem of vampiric 80s Slovak animation is a cult classic in the making, inventively recounting the bloody tale of Elisabeth Báthory. Stompbox is proud to present the Canadian Premiere of a new restoration of Viktor Kubal’s THE BLOODY LADY, featuring a live score by acclaimed pianist Brendan Swanson!

 

Lady Elisabeth Báthory lives a charmed life in a resplendent Romanesque castle, surrounded by Disney-esque wildlife and a colorful cast of obliging servants. Taking ill one day while traveling through the forest, she’s nursed back to health by a handsome woodsman, and in gratitude gifts him with her own heart. But Lady Báthory’s sunny disposition quickly turns murderous and vampiric once she discovers the secret to heart-less eternal youth lies in draining the blood of young men and women. 

 

Widely considered the crown jewel of Slovak animation, THE BLOODY LADY is an improbable and bewitching fusion of gothic horror and classic children’s animation, a retelling of the infamous Cachtická castle and Báthory folk tale, often cited as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s DRACULA. Before THE BLOODY LADY, we will also screen two newly restored animated shorts by director Viktor Kubal – considered the father of Slovak animation – CINEMA (1977) and THE IDOL (1989). (DAVID BERTRAND)

 

 

BRENDAN SWANSON is a Juno and Polaris nominated pianist known for his work with YAMANTAKA//SONIC TITAN. His arrangement and performance work was featured on the Canadian Screen Award winning soundtrack to the film, THROUGH BLACK SPRUCE (2018). Currently he is musical director of the film soundtrack tribute band DRAGON SOUNDS, and video game jazz tribute band THE SUSPICIOUS .EXE FILES.

 

ABOUT STOMPBOX:

Stompbox is a music-on-film screening, event and performance series active since 2016, curated by David Bertrand.

 

Part of the Stompbox series!

Cast/Crew Info
Director:
Viktor Kubal | Cast: Jela Lukešová