Writers/directors Pete Tombs and Andrew Starke cover a lot of ground concerning Do-It-Yourself maverick indie cult French filmmaker Jean Rollin and his strikingly poetic, erotic, and singular body of work in the horror and exploitation genres in this engrossing and illuminating episode of the documentary show "Eurotika." Rollin in his interview comes across as an admirably honest, likable, and down to earth fellow: He admits that he isn't a big fan of gore and prefers beauty instead. Moreover, while Rollin confesses that he saw making hardcore movies in the 70's as a political statement against the repressive establishment, he ultimately reveals that he really did those explicit pictures as a means to keep himself afloat. Other subjects addressed are Rollin's fixation on a certain beach, a pair of vampire girls who are recurring figures in his films, Rollin's highly personal and atypical take on vampirism, and his collaborations with Brigitte Lahaie (who Rollin perceives as a kind of living statue). Clocking in at a tight 24 minutes, with quick interviews with Lahaie, Cathy Castel, and Monica Swinn, and loaded with choice uncensored clips from Rollin's films, this nifty and informative documentary is recommended reviewing for both seasoned Rollin buffs and newcomers to his work alike.
Review of Vampires and Virgins
