Scarlet Diva

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Scarlet Diva ★★ 2000

Writer/director/star Argento, daughter of Italian horror director Dario Argento, explores the trappings of fame in her semiautobiographical debut. As Anna Battista, Argento is an Italian actress tired of her success and looking for love and fulfillment. Anna's mother (Argento's real life mother, Nicolodi), glimpsed in flashbacks, died of a methadone overdose, and her childhood in general has clearly left her damaged. She becomes easy prey for Hollywood vultures like the lascivious producer (Coleman) who wants to cast her in a “Cleopatra” remake opposite Robert De Niro. Back in Rome, Anna's decadent lifestyle is briefly interrupted when she falls in love with an Australian rock star (Shepherd) who promptly leaves her pregnant and devastated. Strangely watchable, but wildly formless style and digital video format matches pic's equally rambling writing and acting. In English, French, and Italian. 91m/C VHS, DVD . IT Asia Argento, Daria Nicolodi, Joe Coleman, Francesca D'Aloja, Jean Shepard, Herbert Fritsch, Gianluca Arcopinto; D: Asia Argento; W: Asia Argento; C: Frederic Fasano.