The gruesome tale of Countess Elizabeth Bathory, notorious yet obscure, has been recounted by historians, writers, poets, playwrights, musicians, painters and moviemakers. Tradition has it that Countess Bathory was the greatest murderess in the history of humankind, as documented by her entry in the Guinness Book of Records. She tortured her victims, exclusively women, before killing them. She bathed in their blood, and tore the flesh from their bodies with her teeth while they were still alive. But is that really true? In four centuries, no historical document has been found to reveal what had exactly happened. The plot of my film diametrically opposes the established legend. My story is about a defenceless widow who owns more property and riches than the king himself and who, as a result, becomes a victim of scheming from on high. Juraj Jakubisko

Cast / Karel Roden , Andrej Hryc , Anthony Byrne , Boleslav Polívka , Jiří Mádl , Vincent Regan , Anna Friel , Lucie Vondráčková , Franco Nero , Hans Matheson , Monika Hilmerová , Deana Jakubisková - Horváthová    Writer / Juraj Jakubisko    Story / Juraj Jakubisko    DoP / F. A. Brabec , Ján Ďuriš    Editor / Christopher Blunden , Patrik Pašš    Animator / Juraj Jakubisko , Karel Vacek

Release date / 10 July 2008

Photogallery