Fantasia 2023: ‘Transylvanie’ Review (Short)
Stars: Katell Varvat, Lucien Le Ho, Emma Gautier, Marylou Sampeur, Théodore Laloe, Djack Hazan-Guéguin | Written by Rodrigue Huart, David A. Cassan, Axel Wursten | Directed by Rodrigue Huart
Ewa is a lonely 10-year-old girl who believes she is a vampire. She longs to vampirize a neighbourhood boy for companionship and devises a plan to set the stage for it to happen…
Receiving its World Premiere at Fantasia this year as part of the Small Gauge Trauma 2023 screenings, co-writer and director Rodrigue Huart has crafted something so special with Transylvanie. A film that is set firmly in contemporary vampire folklore, yet is a throwback to vampire films of the past – playing out in a similar “are they really a vampire” way as George A. Romero’s Martin, but with the childhood angst and alienation of Swedish horror Let the Right One In.
Central to the film is a stunning performance from newcomer Katell Varvat, who gives her character Ewa a real emotional depth – even in the brief 15-minute running time of this short. Her portrayal of a confused youngster, driven to loneliness by her belief she is a vampire but more likely because she doesn’t fit in with the other kids, is a brilliant blend of innocent teen and vampire demon and director Rodrigue Huart has no qualms about showing both sides of Ewa’s character, flirting back and forth in something akin to schizophrenia.
A lot of Ewa’s “problems” stems from her love for her neighbour, an older boy who treats Ewa as a sister, showing her kindness when other kids don’t. Only Ewa mistakes that kindness for reciprocal love and when that isn’t the case… well Ewa’s vampire tendencies come to the fore.
Yet still, throughout all this, we still don’t know if Ewa is REALLY a vampire. She may have bitten a young girl on the throat but was that bloodlust or jealousy? Eventually, Ewa’s actions catch up with her in a haunting climax that answers all the audience’s questions in one fell swoop. Literally.
And you know what? The answer is terrifying.
***** 5/5
Transylvanie had its world premiere as part of this year’s Fantasia Film Festival.
