Scarlet Diva is a novel of radical dismantling. Anna Battista / Asia Argento -- " The best actress of the year", as a voice announces on the first line of the film; "a whore", as she puts it - throws herself on a planetary crusade (Rome / Locarno / Paris /Naples / Rome / Milan / London / Los Angeles / Amsterdam / Rome / Paris) of stereotyped situations: she's late on the set because she's having sex with a big black man on her trailer; she answers boldly to journalists; frees her best friend from bondage, buys hash in Paris; she falls in love with a singer; etcetera. But every stereotype is lit by a strange light, from intense, never banal staging, and an ironic, startled, clear and passionate view of the world. Scarlet Diva is a real woman's film. Anna Battista not only is a victim of destiny, she's also the author of her own story. Anna Battista is an actress wanting to become a director, desperately trying to write a film called Scarlet Diva, a film which ends with these words: "A light snow begins falling, like cotton candy" (which is also a perfect image to describe Asia Argento style as a director: a sweet and morbid lightness). This is Scarlet Diva, a mixture between story and telling, the glance of the actress and the glance of the director, body and camera. In one of the most intense scenes of the film, Anna / Asia, naked in front of a mirror gets made up, then destroys the makeup with her tears. In just a few shots there's all Scarlet Diva: a light intimate photography, a fearless, confident acting, merciless and touching sound track: a precious and grazing staging.
Review of Scarlet Diva
