Representations of Vlad Tepes in Western Media: Vlad (2003)

Vlad (2003)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337744/?ref_=nv_sr_1

In the 2003 movie Vlad, the identity of the Romanian vaivode is merged with that of Dracula, presented both as historical figure, but also as a supernatural monster. The movie abounds in myths about Vlad the Impaler and how he turned from man to creature of darkness, and the distortions in history help in the creation of this image. Local myths about the Romanian leader are mixed with western fantasies to create a new origin for the character, and while in Dark Prince: the True Story of Dracula he was also presented as a possible force for good, in this reiteration, Vlad the Impaler is a force for evil. The movie distorts history from fact in order to give a reason for why Vald Tepes becomes Dracula and gives motives similar to those that can be found in the movie version of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The vaivode loses his wife by a tragic twist of fate, she is falsely informed that he is dead and takes her own life upon hearing the news. When Vlad finds out he is maddened by grief and falls into darkness, again arguing that the Balkan people are led by their passions and not their reason. The reasons for which he does evil are less convincing than for the ones depicted in other movies. Towards the end of the film Tepes himself states that he has come to believe only in beauty, the only source of pleasure for him, and which drives him to kidnapping some of the female protagonists in order to have them spend eternity with him, referencing here the idea that Dracula has many immortal brides. From his words one is led to believe that this Vlad Tepes is driven only by his passions and cares nothing for the consequences his actions have on others. This following of passion is the explanation for everything that he does since as undead he is considered incapable of feeling anything except the carnal pleasures of life and thus seeks to fulfill the only things that he is capable of. The movie also abounds in Romanian superstitions about Tepes but also about the Romanian people. An example would be the marrying of dead young women since they did not have a chance to go through one of life’s phases. A superstition I never heard of but which the movie gives as a valid example and further reinforces it by giving it a romantic appeal, however one may argue that this fits well with the undead bride motif of the Dracula stories. As a conclusion, the movie does offer some historical information about Vlad Tepes but easily falls into the land of fantasy. But to the movie’s credit it was filmed in Romania and even has Romanian actors in its cast which offer an authentic feel to it.