Customer Reviews

Nadja

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a flick I'd recommend to two types: the vampire movie fan, and the indie movie fan. For indie fans, they have much originality to expect from the raw style and small budget of Nadja. It is shot with a simple digital camera and uses pixelated effects. The acting is solid. Elina Löwensohn, who plays Nadja, is brilliant. The script is fresh, despite the parallels with the original Dracula.

For vampire fans, Nadja is a must-see movie. That is, unless you prefer recycled goth-style renditions of the vampire story repeated over and over. Nadja is one of the few *modern* vampire movies that does not incorporate a form of martial arts fighting. There is a somber, crisp mood reflected from both the black and white digital film and the character script. It is a modern and fresh story which remains true to the character motives and rarely duplicated creepiness (though many have tried) of Bram Stocker's classic novel Dracula. You'll also find hidden humerous remarks throughout the film referencing aspects of 'dracula culture'.

Also, the dark theme of the music in the film (from such artists as Portishead) adds to the emotional effect the director has intended.

Rich in metaphors, the noveau style of Nadja makes viewing it worthwhile. Whereas other low budget films of this genre tend to over-do the blood and gore aspects of the vampiric lifestyle, director Almereyda foregos that method, opting instead to delve into the psychological issues which must haunt an individual who is forced to spend eternity wandering the night and feeding on humans. His play on the ever-present human aspects of the vampire characters makes for interesting viewing, especially when you contrast the vampire Edger, who seeks to live a "normal" existence with the woman he loves even if it costs him his life, and Nadja, who accepts her lot and attempts to "be all she can be" while still "mourning" the death of her beloved (or possibly not so beloved) father at the hand of Dr. Van Helsing (Fonda).

As a point of criticism, the final clash between the two vampire twins Nadja and Edgar is somewhat anti-climatic. The buildup left you desiring to see more of a struggle or something, leaving you with a feeling betrayal, asking yourself the question, "Was that all?" Another weak area was the filmography during the shots where Nadja attacks her victims. It seems too psychadelic, as Almereyda changes the camera film speed and focus, filming the scenes through a filter in order to provide a "special effect." It seemed he was attempting to capture something sensual, almost sinister, with the moment. However, it failed. All it did for me was become a tad irritating after the first occurence, and soon I found myself longing for a little old fashioned fangs and gore. However, the choice of b&w versus color for the film was excellent, allowing the director the opportunity to splice in vintage Bela Lugosi images during episodes when Nadja reflects on her departed father.

Overall, Nadja is definitely worth viewing. I recommend only the most die hard vampire fans purchase it, as most "normal" fans will find the movie unimpressive, the plot slow, and the "special effects" primitive.

Its a wild ride well worth watching. Hard work, but at the same time somehow natural in its communication. Dialogue thats beyond simple in places, in others, worth hours of contemplation. I haven't "felt" a film this much in a long time.

This arthouse vampire film from the very talented Michael Almerayda is a wonderfully offbeat, loose retelling of the Dracula story, except that here, the focus is on the title character, the daughter of the famous Count. The setting is updated to New York's East Village, given a positively Transylvannian feel by the terrific black and white photography. Themes of existential identity questions, and dysfuctional, incestuous family relationships (both among the humans and vampires) run throughout the film, and there is a lot of clever, dry humor as well. The humor doesn't detract from the lush, earie atmosphere, though, or from the subtle and beautiful erotic mood centered around Nadja's relationship with a young, married woman, who's uncle-in-law, by the way, just happens to be a crazy, alcoholic who knows about vampires, and just happens to be named Van Helsing (Peter Fonda is terrifically wierd and funny in the part). The rest of the cast is superb too, especially Hal Hartley veterans Elina Lowensohn as Nadja and Martin Donovan as Najda's lover's befuddled husband. Galaxy Craze, an actress I'd never seen before, is mesmerizing as Nadja's human love, Lucy. "Nadja" is the best of Almerayda's films to date, but also worth checking out is his recent variation on the Mummy theme, "The Eternal", and his earlier film "Twister" (not the flying cows movie). "Nadja" is, by the way, my personal pick for all-time favorite vampire movie.

This is an extremely intelligent film, but it's also one of the most sensuous. The switching from stark b&w to pixelvision that some people find annoying is actually very effective. It floods the screen with a kind of graininess, the way little particles of adrenaline flood the bloodstream during moments of arousal. We have lesbian vampires, quirky dialogue, brave spontaneous poetry readings, surrealist touches (like the image of the vibrating Dracula Doll--remember those?), and an all-pervading horror/Christmas/Halloween feeling to everything. A great, great film, vibrantly alive outside the mainstream.

The title may perhaps lead viewers to believe that they are embarking on an excursion into the world of Breton's mad "Nadja." In a sense, this is not unlike the Nadja of the Surrealist's scene and time. Here the protagonist "Nadja" is concerned with transcending both mortality and immortality. This movie is deceptively simple. Shot in pixelvision (by Fisher Price) which is now an art festival staple as well as celluloid black and white the noir qualities, dark humor, and sensuality combine to create a vortex effect that left this viewer laughing, tingling, and even in total suspense: cliffhanging on the edge (or off the edge) of my seat! It is rare that a movie cannot be summarized and encapsulated...it it to this film's credit (oh have we discussed it is about Dracula's daughter and her brother in Brooklyn?) that the "regional" references to New York are accessible to those who have never lived there (I hadn't) as well as a doubleplusgood hoot for those who do. This film's subdued bisexual content, it's soundtrack with the meltdown sounds of blended ambients' --Portishead, My Bloody Valentine-- all contribute with the deadpan urban shoot to "die laughing" delivery and gorgeous (can't use that word enough) oceanic washes of primordial primal pulse (no pun intended as we search for a new "pulse" and our vampires locate their own) to an extremely subdued, haunting, underplayed view...swoon! If you are a little time-warped and don't mind a sacrificial female (which was my only complaint, then again, in sacrificing oneself does one indeed become a mere victim or does one transcend?). A curlicue labyrithine plot structure and lots of quick cuts and fades and washes make the bloodsucking scenes a dream. See Fuseli (Henri) painting "The Nightmare" (the original painting not the one Ken Russel scammed). Listen to "Fade Into You" by Mazzy Starr. But really, this movie evokes...it not only conjures it evokes the feeling of now and ! it's slight time-lapse of then...a strange redemption in the desire for lost eroticism and romantic love in an urbanscape. Ahhh, see for yourself...Peter Fonda funny as Van Helsing but Galaxy Crazze a real stunner. Galaxy does for the ingenue Lucy what Winona Ryder could only dream and then the woman that played Nadja...WHEW! Look for more by this cast and crew soon! END

Today (01/16/2000), people are beginning to pay a bit more attention to low budget movies, usually because they are good. Take attention to "Blair Witch Project", even if it's a true story or not, it moved thousands of person to the cinema, not just because of the story, but also because it's autheticy, realness and thecnic. As for "Nadja" it's the same, as it is a incredibly real, with its low-budget-yet-fantastic scenes, proving you can make an excellent film with just a few money. If you like movies from the type "drama-suspense" and you are sad and lost, I recommend this film as it will set you free! (pay attention to what Nadja says, in the beginning at the bar with Lucy)

I was recommended to watch Nadja from a professor here at my college. My roomate and watched it and felt it was quite an artsy vampire film with good acting and errie music. I also loved how it payed tribute to Bram Stokers Dracula. With character names such as Van Helsing, Lucy, and Reinfeild. It is not hard to tell how much of an influence it had if your a fan of Dracula. Also in a few flashbacks Nadja's dad is none other than Bela Lugosi. Who is the definitive Dracula and is worthy enough to have a tarantula named after him in the film. On a final note Peter Fonda looks great with long hair and carrying around a suitcase of vampire slaying goodies.

Hal Hartley does the neo-gothic thing. :) I'm gonna have to find out more about this Michael Almereyda. What a masterpiece! I'm always so bummed that there's not enough real films out there these days, then I find out this gem has been kicking around for five years and I just never bothered...

To begin, when I first rented this film I was so engrossed that I watched it a second time the very next day. It is a small low-budget film that shows what you can do without money or big studio backing. Elina Lowensohn is breathtaking as Nadja, daughter of Dracula. Peter Fonda adds a humourous tone as Prof. Van Helsing. And the rest of the cast is very very strong. This is a thinking persons vampire flick with equal parts 40's film noir and 90's disconnected self exploration. The dearth of a spirituality to call ones own is the major theme here. Combined with the gorgeous soundtrack, kitch humour and glorious black and white film this is a keeper that has not collected much dust since I purchased it. Another film that stars Lowensohn and Martin Donovan from Nadja is Amateurs by director Hal Hartly. It is also well worth watching if you enjoyed this one (or even if you didn't).