Byzantium at Light House Cinema

It is hard to describe a piece of cinema that captures your heart and eyes in a split second and follows you home afterwards. ‘Byzantium’ has it all and so much more.

Directed by the legendary Neil Jordan, ‘Byzantium’ offers you a ticket to a classy Gothic fantasy world riddled with vampires and dreams of immortality.  This two-hour picture focuses on a story of an undead mother-daughter duo on the run from the mysterious Brotherhood for over 200 years. The desperate run leads them to a tiny village on the English coastline that turns out to hold the key to their haunted past. Irish starlet Saoirse Ronan and Brit actress Gemma Arterton truly ignite this tale of exiles looking for happiness and understanding whereas Jonny Lee Miller’s pitch-black villain casts long shadows over the whole film. I particularly love the confession motif, so significant and memorable from Jordan’s film adaptation of ‘Interview with the Vampire’. The need to be heard and seen is overpowering and Saoirse’s eyes can make you drown in the vastness of loneliness Eleanor Webb struggles with.  A brilliant piece of pure horror fantasy that goes well with Tomas Alfredson ‘Let the Right One In’ and ‘Thirst’ by Chan-wook Park. It is a must for cinema addicts.

Thanks goes to the Light House Cinema for treating us with this undoubtedly tasty cinematic delicacy.

Anna, DublinTown