Neil Jordan let 18 years pass between his first vampire film and this one from 2012. Interestingly enough, both of his films begin with a vampire who has a story to tell; but in this one, much of this film revolves around the struggle over who to trust with the tale, or if it should be shared at all.
Gemma Arterton and Soirse Ronan play Clara and the younger Eleanor, who have been companions for over 200 years. Soon after the movie begins, we see that they're on the run from some unnamed pursuer. Once they discover a safe haven, Clara sets up a brothel to provide for them an income, while Eleanor longs to tell her story to somebody outside of the insulated world she shares with Clara. As that takes place in the modern day, we also see a parallel story unfold featuring the same characters, but from two centuries prior.
This is not your typical vampire film. There are a couple gory parts, but the vast majority of it is ponderous and atmospheric-- there's a strong sense of loneliness throughout. Visually, it's a lovely film; it's shot mostly on the Irish coast, which is beautiful even when overcast. Soirse Ronan is a bit of a child prodigy, having been nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Atonement as a 13 year old, and I've been a Gemma Arterton since she starred in Tamara Drewe; both of them are in excellent form here. The story has many layers to it-- there are stories told within stories, and the connections between the characters aren't always how they seem.
If I have any issues with the film, it's mostly the codes that the different vampires live by-- they all have rules they follow, but they often seem arbitrary. But this movie isn't really about vampires. It's about the relationship between these two women and how it's evolved over time, how they tolerate each other, and how they sometimes don't. Mere men-- mortal or vampire-- can only get in the way.
"Byzantium" is an art house vampire flick. It's got too much slow-burning drama to appeal to your average horror fan, and probably too much gore to appeal to your average prestige film-buff. But it's an interesting take on a genre that has gotten more than a bit stale over the years. If you can stomach mixing the two sensibilities, I think you'll find this film to be a nifty little gem.
Another great review!
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