Cult Cravings: Scarlet Diva

2000, 91 Minutes, Rated R
Italy

Director: Asia Argento

Scarlet Diva is a raw, deeply personal, and stylistically inventive poison pen letter to Hollywood from the unique cinematic perspective of indie film provocateur and outspoken leader in the #metoo movement Asia Argento.

In this semi-autobiographical film, Argento plays Anna Battista, a young, popular, 24-year-old Italian actress who engages in a hectic and self-destructive spree across Europe and America to shed her sex kitten image to become an artist. A timely look at the systematic sexism of the film industry.

Created on glorious standard definition MiniDV as part of the first wave of digital filmmaking, Scarlet Diva is now newly restored in HD.

 

“A demented kitsch mess…, but it’s savvy about celebrity and has more guts and energy than much of what will open this year. ” — Manohla Dargis, Los Angeles Times

“This is such a dazzlingly self-assured directorial debut that it’s hard to know what to praise first.” — F.X. Feeney, L.A. Weekly

 

Official Selection:
Toronto International Film Festival