Writer-Director Tereza Nvotová's powerful and visually arresting new provincial horror drama gets a limited edition Blu-ray release from Arrow Films.
When Sarlota (Natalia Germani) was a little girl she witnessed (and may have been responsible for) her younger sister falling from a cliff. Years later she is summoned back to the tiny provincial village of her birth to discuss an inheritance from her late mother.
She finds the house next door burned out and her own empty, the villagers unfriendly, and too long in the city has made her forgetful of the misogynistic practices of the menfolk and the passive acquiescence of the women. There are accusations of witchcraft, both of old and currently, and some of these are levelled at Sarlota herself. With the help of Mira (Eva Mores) Sarlota finally discovers the truth behind her family's history while having to deal with the shocking attitudes and presumptions the villagers still harbour.
NIGHTSIREN is beautifully filmed, with some jaw-dropping compositions against a background of the lush Czech landscape where the movie was filmed. It's also not afraid to venture into arthouse territory with some scenes of strangeness, while all the time pushing its grim, bitter and extremely vital message regarding the abuse of women in an extreme patriarchal society. Consequently some of NIGHTSIREN isn't easy viewing, but then it shouldn't be. It's a moving film, skilfully put together and if you like your European art house cinema grim and confrontational then this one's definitely for you.
Arrow's limited edition Blu-ray comes with a commentary track from Kat Ellinger, and there's a video essay from Alexandra Heller-Nicholas on the idea of witches and 'sisterhood', as well as another video essay from Justine Smith that addresses the issues raised in the film directly.
Finally you get a trailer, a reversible sleeve, a double-sided foldout poster, and a collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film from Anton Bitel, Cerise Howard and Alexandra West.
Tereza Nvotová's NIGHTSIREN is out on limited edition Blu-ray from Arrow Films on Monday 3rd June 2024
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