Product Details

• Actors: Asia Argento, Joe Coleman
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Shriek Show
• DVD Release Date: November 26, 2002
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000077VQY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,577 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Scarlet Diva" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: Media Blasters Inc. Release Date: 11/26/2002 Run time: 91 minutes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Self-indulgent and overhyped, July 28, 2003

By 

e5150 (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scarlet Diva (DVD)

First of all, this film is not explicit in any way, shape or form, and does not belong in the same breath as the great Eurosleaze titles. It is an admirable attempt by Asia, and probably better than many first time directors/story writers could do, but I can do without her wallowing in self-pity.
I found it fascinating that, during the interview with Asia which is included on the dvd, she actually tells the viewer not to be disturbed by what is seen in the film. Well, I watched and watched again, and could not find anything disturbing except the fact that the clock had ticked away so much of my spare time--time which could have been spent on more useful tasks.
No, there is nothing sexually explicit at all in this film, but you are meant to think there is. The sex scenes are laughably tame, trust me.
The most I got out of this dvd was the inspiration to purchase "The House on the Edge of the Park", the trailer for which is included on the disc, along with those of 2 other films. Now that was a much more rewarding film experience. This was forgettable.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars hey, turn on the subtitles!, April 28, 2003

By 

Saint Sangre (rockford, il. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scarlet Diva (DVD)

ignore the other reviewers because this DVD does have subtitles, you may just have to turn them on in your menu.. unless I have some sort of magical copy!?!! anyways Scarlet Diva is another love it or hate it art house flick. It all depends on if you like Asia Argento, because this is a vehicle for her. Some magazines have critized this movie as an ego trip for her but they wouldn't dare say that about a woody allen movie or any other project from a multi-talented artist..you can tell this movie was made to tell some sort of life story and you can tell it is heavily dramatized..the film itself has it's own voyeuristic feel to it and some of the scenes and transitions are just wonderful (one of my favs include a shot of asia covering her arms over her head and the arms transition into a pillow that spreads open revealing asia was sleeping..hard to explain but the small things are what make this movie beautiful)..the movie is a little shapeless and drags in some areas but for a directoral debut with a small budget, this is impressive. I hope Asia directs again with a story that it is completely different so it can show an extension of her talents.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes Painful But Very Strong Account of Actress's Life, January 5, 2003

By 

Tsuyoshi (Kyoto, Japan) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Scarlet Diva (DVD)

Asia Argento, daughter of Italian horror maestro Dario, has been a gifted actress on her own before her appearance in "XXX" with Vin Diesel, after her good turns in some English-speaking films like "B-Monkey" (directed by Michael Radford, "Il Postino" fame and "New Rose Hotel" by none other than Abel Ferrara. And her film debut goes back to the year 1985. Considering the fact she was born in 1975, her career is as memorable as that of Drew Barrymore, and it is only natural that Asia goes on to direct her own film, which turns out "Scarlet Diva," full of, some say, her autobiographical elements.

The film traces a life of Italian actress Anna Battista, who is at the height of popularity. But despite of her fame, her private life is terribly bleak: in short, sex, drug, and violence. But in Paris, she meets her destiny, that is, a musician from Australia named Kirk, with whom she shares a bed one night.

After the meeting with him, Anna attempts to change her life, taking more seriously of her life. But the surrounding people in the industy would not listen. The Hollywood producer doesn't hear her plead to be taken seriously, and only desires her body, not the scrpit she wrote.

"Scarlet Diva" goes on like this. The film suffers from its repetitions of the heroine's agony, which looks often as if having no end. Though the camera brings the atomosphere of the place to life vividly (with digital video), the narrative is not particularly effective. We know from the beginning where the film would go, and it goes there.

But the strong point of the film does not lie there, but in Asia's convincing performance as a tormented heroine. You may feel this film looks self-indulgent, and that tendency should be admitted. But her good acting, very emotional and true to herself, raises the film to higher level, showing that she is more than a daughter of famous director, or a psuedo-Bond girl in Hollywood movies.

Many interesting names appear in addition to painter Joe Coleman. Vera Jemma (Italian actor Giuliano Gemma's daughter) as Anna's friend, and Daria Nicolodi (Asia's mother) as Anna's mother. The soundtrack music is done by John Hughes, the son of much famous director of the same name (of Molly Ringwald films), and the film is produced by Dario and Claudio Argento, the latter being Asia's uncle.