Blood and Chocolate (2007)
Set almost entirely in Bucharest, Romania
Co-production United States, Germany, Romania, and the United Kingdom.
Genre: Fantasy-horror
Director: Katja von Garnier
Cast: Agnes Bruckner, Hugh Dancy, Olivier Martinez, Katja Riemann, Bryan Dick
Vivian, played by Agnes Bruckner is a nineteen year old Loup Garou, (werewolf) born in Romania to American parents. When she was very young however, her family took her and her two siblings and moved back to America. After her entire family, except herself, were killed by hunters she returned to Bucharest at the age of nine years old. From then on she is raised by her aunt that along with many others is part of a werewolf pack led by Gabriel.
The film tells her love story with graphic novelist Aiden, played by Hugh Dancy. Aiden is human but he is fascinated by fantastic beings, especially Loups Garoux that he also plans to include in his next book. The reason why he visits Romania is because he knows the land has many such legends, and wishes to find a lot of inspiration there. Of course, he knows about the myths but he never imagines them to be real.
First of all, the setting is almost entirely Bucharest. The city looks old and historical as if it hasn’t changed for centuries.
As usual, Romania becomes a land of the mystical; this time not vampires, but werewolves find shelter in the country. In fact, the pack is formed by werewolves from all over the world who were forced to leave their native countries because they were haunted down. The space is obviously made to seem like a haven for the supernatural.
“We have been chased from everywhere, England, France, America, but not here, never here.” (~25:20)
The buildings are very old and decrepit both inside and out, as if they have been empty for a very long time and then occupied by the refugee werewolves. In all the buildings, the mark of time can be seen. Vivian even has a “soba” (enclosed fireplace) in her room and all the furniture is old and creaky. Even Aiden’s hotel room has paint chipping off the walls.
The intention is to make Bucharest look mystical and mysterious, unchanged by the passing of time, more like an archaeological site than a living place.
What is very odd is the fact that almost no one, with the exception of one, speaks Romanian. If not for the location indicator and the references to Romanian history, the setting could have been anywhere. It reminded me of stereotypical India (the Oriental-sounding music and the walking through rows of laundry hanged to dry on ropes between the buildings helped a lot).
The supernatural element of the film blends in with historical references, giving Romania as a land where non-humans exist more legitimacy.
“They’re all that’s left of Bucharest Castle. Built by the Magyar Princes in the 10th Century, it was said that the Princes’ bloodline was Loup Garou, so when the Magyars lost the throne it was said that wolf reign was over.” (~41:30)
Another instance when history is used as proof for the existence of the Romanian supernatural is when we see Rome's Capitoline Wolf statue, looking over the city.
