Aurélia Mengin’s Scarlet Blue is screening at this year’s Pigeon Shrine FrightFest. The film marks Mengin’s second feature film, following the criminally underseen Fornacis, and is an arresting and beautiful tale of finding oneself amidst depression and mental illness. Easily one of the most beautiful movies to have ever screened at FrightFest, attendees are in for a real treat should they add it to their viewing schedules.
Mario Bava meets David Lynch in Aurélia Mengin’s shocking visual extravaganza, Scarlet Blue. Forty-year-old Alter (Amélie Daure and Anne-Sophie Charron) suffers from depression, schizophrenia, and a schism of communication with her mother. After a suicide attempt, she consults a healer who practices mystical hypnosis and lives an isolated existence in a cave. It seems Léandro Lecreulx’s (Stefano Cassetti) unique methods are effective as for each session he infiltrates deeper into Alter’s unconscious and connects her to her deepest childhood fears. Then Léandro gives her a Polaroid camera so she can take photos before and after each crisis. Will they help piece together her memory loss puzzle?
Having already screened in several countries across the globe, Scarlet Blue receives its UK premiere at FrightFest and audiences are sure to embrace this beautifully realised experimental film. Like Fornacis and her short films before, Mengin has poured much of herself into Scarlet Blue. Her perfectionist and artistic attitude caused her to make many demands upon herself. In addition to writing and directing Scarlet Blue, Aurélia Mengin also stars in the film and worked hard on the art design, costumes, hair and make-up, and many other tasks. The fruits of her labour are stunning and THN were thrilled when Mengin agreed to speak with us. Our conversation goes deep into the creative process and highlights just what it means to the talented filmmaker to be sharing her art with the world.
Scarlet Blue screens at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest on Friday 23rd August. More information on the film and tickets can be found on the FrightFest website.
