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What a time for a film like Scarlet Diva (2000) to make its way back into the spotlight. I originally saw the film on an import DVD when it was first released nearly twenty years ago. As the directorial debut of Asia Argento, it really packed a punch. Scarlet Diva was semi-autobiographical, and many of the situations depicted in the film really happened to the young actress. Viewing the film now, knowing what we now know, makes it a bit more difficult to watch.
Anna Batista (Argento) is a young actress with her star on the rise. As the pressure of fame begins to close in on her, she succumbs to self-destructive behavior that threatens her well-being. In an attempt to be seen as a real artist, she embarks on a campaign to write and direct a feature film loosely based on her real experiences called Scarlet Diva. This leads her to a rollercoaster of experiences that include helping a friend out of an abusive relationship, trying to escape the advances of a perverted film producer, and falling in love with a rockstar who breaks her heart, only to find out she’s pregnant. She is thrown into a downward spiral of addiction she may never overcome.
I appreciate the way Scarlet Diva feels like it was, or could have been, a true story, and in many ways it is. When Asia Argento broke her silence in 2017 about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Harvey Weinstein, the scene in which she is abused by a sleazeball producer played by Joe Coleman immediately came to mind. It also made it much more difficult to view. Scarlet Diva has mixed reviews, but as a long-time fan of the actress, I find it to be daring, brave, and liberating. At the time of release, she was mostly known for her work with her father, until she appeared in films like XXX and Land of the Dead. Sure, there are moments that don’t always work, but the stories she told within the film were dark and somewhat disturbing.
Asia Argento is a true artist, and Scarlet Diva was a fitting debut. Despite the tragedy and accusations she has faced in recent years, her ability to force her audience to feel something is most certainly intact. In 2020, she will be teaming up with her father again for a film called Occhiali neri and I, for one, cannot wait to see what they bring to the screen.
Related Article: Review: ‘Only’ is a Daring Dystopian Feature
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