The Vourdalak

Original Title: Le Vourdalak 

Duration: 91 minutes 

Country: France 

Language: French with English Subtitles 

Director(s): Adrien Beau 

All is not well inside the lush forests of Eastern Europe. In this reimagining of Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy’s classic novella The Family of the Vourdalak, the Marquis d'Urfé is lost and seeking shelter on the estate of one “old Gorcha”, a supposed ally of the French king. But Gorcha is missing from the house when the Marquis appears–and the old man’s bizarre and secretive family seems all too remiss to share the details. This story is one of frivolous passions, flaming egos, and furtive struggles against the status quo of masculinity; all these come together to form a screening event that is, by all accounts, well and truly terrifying. This is modern horror told almost in the mournful retrospective, an homage to long-forgotten folklore. 

Quote: What surprises is the way Beau manages to flip the horror to embrace some of the underlying pathos in a tale of tragic love, family loyalty, suffocating notions of masculinity and a brutal patriarchal rule.-----Screendaily, 2023 

Awards: 

+ Venice Film Festival: 2023 Winner Grand Prize Venice International Critics' Week, Jury Special Mention 

+ Venice Film Festival: 2023 Nominee Grand Prize Venice International Critics' Week, Best Film 

+ Thessaloniki Film Festival: 2023 Nominee Golden Alexander, Film Forward Competition 

Pre-Screening Event:

+ Opening Act screening of The Tenth Door, Directed by Michael Lies

+ Popcorn and Spooky Gummy Candy Bar!

Post-Screening Event:

+ Audience and Panel Discussion with Michael Lies and Cathy Tuttle, moderated by University of Pittsburgh Film and Media Studies Professor Dana Och