"Lips of Blood" follows Frederic, a man who is haunted by visions (or memories?) of encountering a mysterious woman during his childhood near the ruins of a seaside chateau. These visions are spurred when he sees a photograph of a landscape that resembles the site of the ruins. He begins to delve into his family's past to discern the origins of these powerful recollections, in particular with the assistance of his evasive mother.
While I appreciate many of Jean Rollin's films, I admit that they are not all particularly suited to my taste; I had long though "Fascination" was my favorite film of his, that is until I saw "Lips of Blood". Rollin himself often referred to this as his most personal work, and it's easy to see how. The story is steeped in repressed memories and how we deal with the past and events from childhood, and it is telegraphed like a classic gothic horror story.
Like most all of Rollin's work, "Lips of Blood" is indeed mysterious, but there is a narrative through-line and a tangible protagonist, which makes the events depicted somewhat more straightforward and easier to grasp than some of the director's more surreal work. Atmosphere is the name of Rollin's game, though, and "Lips of Blood" still has that in spades. Its final sequence, be it symbolic or not, etches into your memory.
Although many (myself included at one time) might recommend "Fascination" as a starting point for Rollin's filmography, I now tend to think that "Lips of Blood" may instead be his most accessible (and most powerful) film. It is certainly one of his more subtle works, but no less a dreamy and potent portrait of past colliding with present. 9/10.
While I appreciate many of Jean Rollin's films, I admit that they are not all particularly suited to my taste; I had long though "Fascination" was my favorite film of his, that is until I saw "Lips of Blood". Rollin himself often referred to this as his most personal work, and it's easy to see how. The story is steeped in repressed memories and how we deal with the past and events from childhood, and it is telegraphed like a classic gothic horror story.
Like most all of Rollin's work, "Lips of Blood" is indeed mysterious, but there is a narrative through-line and a tangible protagonist, which makes the events depicted somewhat more straightforward and easier to grasp than some of the director's more surreal work. Atmosphere is the name of Rollin's game, though, and "Lips of Blood" still has that in spades. Its final sequence, be it symbolic or not, etches into your memory.
Although many (myself included at one time) might recommend "Fascination" as a starting point for Rollin's filmography, I now tend to think that "Lips of Blood" may instead be his most accessible (and most powerful) film. It is certainly one of his more subtle works, but no less a dreamy and potent portrait of past colliding with present. 9/10.