STORY OF MY DEATH (Història de la meva mort) (2013) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Albert Serra

Written by - Albert Serra

Starring - Vicenc Altalo, Lluis Serrat, Eliseu Huertas

"ALBERT SERRA's unique take on the dying days of CASANOVA is both an examination of the final days of the age of enlightenment and a study of decadence, and all progressively mixed with a Hammer horror campy sexuality. 

The narrative in the STORY OF MY DEATH is quite minimalistic, almost out of a sense of rebelliousness. Yet, the evolution of the character study, which alternated from fun to philosophical and journeys through darker territories, is very organic and captivating. 

Throughout the film, we not only experience the portrayal of a man who, even in his ageing days, is still on constant pursuit of pleasures, whether it is of the sexual kind, sought via copious amounts of eating or experienced while during acts of excretions. We also understand the disillusionment experienced by his new manservant, with his awe for his charismatic master constantly dimming as the film continues. 

The film is a challenging watch. While VINCENC ALTAIO in the role of CASANOVA is near animalistic in his powerful embodiment of Epicurean idealism, and his constant pontificating on anything unusually presents an intriguing and polarizing if slightly purposefully inconsistent trail of thought, the enigma of his character becomes always more trivial and not as interesting in the second part of the lengthy film, which well surpasses its two hours in length. 

If STORY OF MY DEATH never quite outwears its welcome, it is also because of Serra's meticulous attention to the mise en scene, and a chiaroscuro cinematography by JIMMY GIMFERRER, that is as raw and dark as it is beautiful and colourful."

Period Drama, Spain/France/Romania