Die Blutgräfin film premiere held in Salzburg

The film Die Blutgräfin, directed by Ulrike Ottinger, recently held its Salzburg premiere at Das Kino following its Austrian premiere at the Viennale. Inspired by the legend of Erzsébet Báthory, the film is described as a baroque, camp-style vampire story set in Vienna.

Isabelle Huppert stars in the title role as the Blood Countess, who awakens from a long sleep and embarks on a quest for the elixir of life alongside her maid, played by Birgit Minichmayr. The narrative involves a mysterious book that threatens the vampire realm, pursued by various characters including a vegetarian nephew, a psychotherapist, and a police inspector.

Ottinger, whose work often uses fantasy and irony to critique social norms and power structures, returns to fiction filmmaking with this project. The film features a prominent cast including Lars Eidinger, André Jung, and Karl Markovics, and has also begun theatrical release in Germany.